China's updated technologies export rule has given Beijing "a precise lever" to raise concerns over technology transfer deals that could jeopardize the nation's due rights and the lawful interests of Chinese companies overseas, according to experts.

Beijing unveiled a newly revised catalog of technologies prohibited and restricted from export on Friday, incorporating new restrictions on artificial intelligence-related technologies, including algorithm-backed services such as those provided by ByteDance, the parent firm of video-sharing app TikTok.

That means technologies new to the list, including text analysis, content recommendation, speech modeling, voice-recognition and personalized recommendation pushes, are subject to regulatory approval before their potential export or sale.

"The updated rule, while not necessarily taking aim at the TikTok case, gives Beijing the legitimacy to act on similar cases with reasonable concerns and major national interests," said Shen Yi, professor and director of the Research Institution of Global Cyberspace Governance at Fudan University in Shanghai.

"If you carefully study the terms, the list isn't designed to be a 'clean-cut' ban, but a case-by-case restriction," he said.

"It's essentially a defensive control, meaning the government would only step in when major national security issues and corporates' lawful rights are at stake."

Cui Fan, a professor of international trade at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said that it has been a common international practice to implement negative lists for technology exports, and adjustments have become necessary thanks to the development of new technologies since the catalog was last revised in 2008.

"China is not in favor of the so-called decoupling. … Some forefront technologies might affect national security and public welfare, and need to be included in catalog management," he told Xinhua News Agency in an article published on Saturday.

He suggested companies like ByteDance study the new list and "seriously and cautiously" consider whether they should cease sales negotiations.