SCMP: US-China AI rivalry does not rule out cooperation

Rivalry between the United States and China in artificial intelligence should not hinder international cooperation on technology safety, according to an opinion column in the South China Morning Post. The author notes that cyberattacks, disinformation, system failures and the dangerous use of AI create risks that are not confined by national borders.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres said at the first UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance that countries aligning their approaches to system testing, risk assessment and the assignment of responsibility makes it possible to spread safety alongside technology. Incompatible rules, he said, instead increase costs, divide the world and fail to provide protection.

China's and US initiatives

Last month, China established the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, Waico, which has 29 founding members. Its goal is cooperation and governance in AI, as well as helping developing countries bridge the digital divide.

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The United States, meanwhile, is developing the Pax Silica initiative related to artificial intelligence, technology and supply-chain security. In June, a Pax Silica summit was held in Washington with the participation of countries seeking to strengthen supply chains for AI. In the opinion columnist's view, Waico could strengthen China's influence on global AI governance, while Pax Silica could reinforce a US-oriented network of trusted partners.

Participation in different formats

Indonesia joined Waico while also taking part in Pax Silica discussions, and Kazakhstan joined both initiatives. As SCMP writes, the United States is reportedly preparing to warn countries that participation in initiatives it considers incompatible with the American system could lead to exclusion.

The author also cites a 2025 study that analyzed more than 40 US and Chinese documents on AI governance. It found convergence in approaches to system reliability, algorithmic transparency and the use of AI to improve safety. Chinese President Xi Jinping, at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, called for maintaining human control over AI, speaking about preventing risks and countering abuse.