By Brenda Goh
SHANGHAI, July 26 (Reuters)
China has been trying to reposition its image as a responsible leader in the development of artificial intelligence, using its narrative of “inclusive governance.” The proposal announced at the Shanghai conference aligns directly with the launch of the Global AI Governance Initiative (GAIGI), in which Beijing emphasizes the need for a multipolar system, moving away from models dominated by Western powers. This repositioning is part of a broader effort to expand its influence over the direction of international AI regulation.
China’s AI push: openness or strategic positioning?
China said on Saturday it wanted to create an organization to foster global cooperation on artificial intelligence, positioning itself as an alternative to the U.S. as the two vie for influence over the transformative technology. China wants to help coordinate global efforts to regulate fast-evolving AI technology and share the country’s advances, Premier Li Qiang told the annual World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai.
President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday released an AI blueprint aiming to vastly expand U.S. AI exports to allies in a bid to maintain the American edge over China in the critical technology. Li did not name the United States but appeared to refer to Washington’s efforts to stymie China’s advances in AI, warning that the technology risked becoming the “exclusive game” of a few countries and companies.
China wants AI to be openly shared and for all countries and companies to have equal rights to use it, Li said, adding that Beijing was willing to share its development experience and products with other countries, particularly the “Global South”. The Global South refers to developing, emerging, or lower-income countries, mostly in the southern hemisphere. How to regulate AI’s growing risks was another concern, Li said, adding that bottlenecks included an insufficient supply of AI chips and restrictions on talent exchange.
Tensions and technology: U.S. measures vs. China’s vision
By promising to share products and technical know-how, Beijing attempts to attract nations that may feel marginalized by great-power disputes. This approach seeks to present China as a champion of more inclusive technological governance, which strengthens its geopolitical influence in strategic regions.
The three-day Shanghai conference brings together industry leaders and policymakers at a time of escalating technological competition between China and the United States – the world’s two largest economies – with AI emerging as a key battleground. Washington has imposed export restrictions on advanced technology to China, including the most high-end AI chips made by companies such as Nvidia NVDA.O and chipmaking equipment, citing concerns that the technology could enhance China’s military capabilities.
China’s diplomatic outreach through AI governance
Despite these restrictions, China has continued making AI breakthroughs that have drawn scrutiny from U.S. officials. China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu told a roundtable of representatives from over 30 countries, including Russia, South Africa, Qatar, South Korea, and Germany, that China wanted the organization to promote pragmatic cooperation in AI and was considering putting its headquarters in Shanghai.
Besides signaling global ambition, the choice of the city shows that China is a leading center for emerging technologies. However, the effectiveness of this initiative will depend on international support and the ability to adhere to GAIGI’s principles. Including diverse countries in the debate is an initial step, but acceptance of its parameters will probably face resistance, particularly from governments aligned with the United States.
From initiative to influence: Can China lead AI governance?
With the creation of an organization dedicated to the global governance of artificial intelligence, China is mainly seeking to reposition its role in the international system. The success of this initiative will depend on several factors, such as the ability to articulate diverse interests and, above all, to prove the viability of cooperation in this area that is constantly changing.