China Strikes Back: Launches Bold Global AI Initiative to Counter US Dominance

Beijing fires the latest salvo in the tech cold war—unveiling a sweeping AI framework designed to outmaneuver Washington's grip on artificial intelligence leadership.

No more playing catch-up. China's state-backed consortium just dropped a 5-year roadmap targeting everything from quantum machine learning to autonomous weapons systems. The subtext? A direct challenge to America's chip-and-algorithm hegemony.

Western analysts are scrambling. Some call it a 'moonshot play'—others whisper about another black-budget arms race. Meanwhile, Silicon Valley VCs are already repricing their AI portfolios (and booking flights to Shenzhen).

One hedge fund manager quipped: 'At least someone's still investing in real tech instead of monkey JPEGs.'

In brief

• China has proposed the creation of a global organization dedicated to cooperation on artificial intelligence.
• This initiative was presented by Prime Minister Li Qiang at the World AI Conference in Shanghai.
• Beijing criticizes the current governance as ‘fragmented’ and calls for a global framework based on international consensus.
• The project aims notably to include countries from the Global South and guarantee equitable access to AI technologies.

Beijing Unveils Its Vision for Global AI Governance

At the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang expressed Beijing’s desire to structure an international governance around AI, while TRUMP unveiled his dedicated strategy for the sector a few days before this event. His ambition : to create a global organization dedicated to cooperation in artificial intelligence, which could be established in Shanghai.

In his words, “the global development of AI governance remains fragmented”. He called to “form a global AI governance framework that enjoys broad consensus as quickly as possible”. Indeed, Beijing seeks to embody a credible alternative to the unilateral Western approaches.

Here are the key facts and main announcements made by the Chinese authorities :

• The proposal of a global organization for AI cooperation, possibly headquartered in Shanghai, to foster structured international dialogue ;

• An openness towards the Global South, aiming to share Chinese expertise : “China is ready to share its development experiences and products,” affirmed Li Qiang ;

• A warning about the risks of technological power concentration: the Chinese Prime Minister warned that AI should not become “an exclusive game reserved for a few countries and companies”;

• A call for open and inclusive governance : Beijing emphasizes equal access for all countries to AI technology ;

• A publication of an action plan by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, calling for collaboration among governments, businesses, research centers, and international organizations ;

• International presence at the summit : more than 30 countries represented, including Russia, Germany, Qatar, South Korea, and South Africa.

This diplomatic offensive fits into a broader strategy of influence. By reaching out to developing countries and relying on a collaborative approach, China attempts to position itself as a responsible technological leader, facing an ecosystem still marked by regulatory fragmentation and geopolitical rivalries.

A Direct Geopolitical Response to the American Technological Offensive

Although China never directly names the United States in its speech, the reference to technological rivalry is implicit. A few days earlier, the American administration published a plan aimed at increasing AI technology exports to its allies, with the explicit goal of maintaining a strategic lead over Beijing.

Indeed, the restrictive measures imposed by Washington, notably on exports of high-end AI chips produced by Nvidia, fuel an increasing climate of tension. In his speech, Li Qiang also pointed to the obstacles encountered, such as “bottlenecks in chip supply” or limitations regarding “talent exchange” at the international level. These remarks clearly criticize the technological containment policy led by the United States against China.

The Shanghai conference, beyond its diplomatic content, served as a showcase for Chinese technological know-how. Over 800 companies presented some 3,000 high-tech products, including 40 language models, 50 AI-powered devices, and 60 smart robots.

Huawei, Alibaba, but also startups like Unitree (humanoid robotics) were present. The Western presence, more discreet but real, included giants like Tesla, Alphabet, and Amazon. The notable absence of Elon Musk, who participated in previous years, questions the evolution of Sino-American relations in this cutting-edge sector.

This Chinese proposal could accelerate the polarization of the global AI landscape. By building an alliance around countries of the Global South and advocating for a non-Western technological governance, Beijing seeks to redraw the rules of the game. If successful, this global repositioning could sustainably reshape the balance in the development of international AI standards, such as those of the European Union. It remains to be seen whether this strategy will manage to unite beyond the Chinese diplomatic circle, and whether it will be perceived as a genuine alternative or as an extension of Beijing’s political influence.

Maximize your Cointribune experience with our "Read to Earn" program! For every article you read, earn points and access exclusive rewards. Sign up now and start earning benefits.