The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it is tightening export controls to restrict China's ability to access certain high-end chips that could be used by Beijing to produce advanced military systems.

The move is part of efforts to protect the United States' national security and foreign policy interests, the department said in a press release, underscoring the intensifying competition between the world's two largest economies over technology.

The new rules target advanced computer chips and items intended for end-use in supercomputers. The U.S. government is concerned that such advanced systems are being used by China to improve calculations in weapons design and testing for nuclear weapons, hypersonic and other missile systems, and to analyze battlefield effects.

In addition, artificial intelligence surveillance tools, enabled by efficient processing of huge amounts of data, are being used by China to monitor, track and surveil citizens, the department said.

The new rules will also require U.S. individuals to obtain a license for activities to support the development or production of certain chips in China.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning criticized the United States on Saturday for "abusing export control measures to wantonly block and hobble Chinese enterprises" in order to "maintain its sci-fi hegemony."

Mao told a press conference in Beijing that the fresh measure runs counter to the principle of fair competition and will also hurt the interests of American companies by dealing a blow to global industrial supply chains and world economic recovery.

"By politicizing tech and trade issues and using them as a tool and weapon, the U.S. will eventually hurt and isolate itself when its actions backfire," she said.

The Semiconductor Industry Association said it is "assessing the impact" of the new export controls.

"We understand the goal of ensuring national security and urge the U.S. government to implement the rules in a targeted way -- and in collaboration with international partners -- to help level the playing field and mitigate unintended harm to U.S. innovation," the Washington-based organization said in a press release.