China has criticised what it called “threat narratives” around artificial intelligence governance, warning that such messaging risks escalating “confrontation and malicious competition” between states. The comments, delivered by China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday, came after renewed calls in the United States for a slowdown in advanced AI development and for tighter safety regulation. They also underscored the growing difficulty of reaching shared rules between the two leading AI powers, even as they face similar frontier-risk concerns. China Says Threat Messaging Benefits No OneGuo told reporters that narratives focused on threats, confrontation and malicious competition “disrupt” efforts to agree global AI governance, and said they were not in anyone’s interest. He added that all parties should work together to advance AI in ways that are open, inclusive and beneficial, and that are oriented towards “the good”. The remarks reflect the strained political framing around AI at a time when the technology is increasingly tied to national security concerns and broader economic competition. US Calls Grow For Regulation And Slower PaceOver the past week, industry insiders at leading US AI laboratories warned in stark terms about the potential dangers posed by AI. Some figures suggested it could threaten humanity, while US President Donald Trump said the priority for Washington is to ensure the US develops the technology faster than China. Chinese officials, however, have also publicly highlighted AI risks and urged responses focused on balancing security and development. In a statement on Sunday, state security minister Chen Yixin said China must “balance development and security”, improve relevant laws and ethical guidelines, and strengthen prevention of risks to safeguard public interests and national security. He also warned of dangers posed by “hostile forces”, including foreign intelligence using AI, and called for international cooperation. Analysts said cooperation between Washington and Beijing on slowing or regulating AI is unlikely. One Singapore-based academic, Chang Jun Yan of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said agreement is “next to impossible”, given that each state’s approach to AI safety and pacing touches core national security interests. Cooperation Efforts Run Side By Side With CompetitionDespite public warnings about frontier risks, the US-China contest remains intense. US export bans on critical chips have not prevented Chinese AI progress, which has been driven in part by open-source technologies and support from Beijing. Many experts say the US still has an advantage, while Chinese firms work to catch up as they seek the large sums of investment flowing into American AI development. China has pursued parallel efforts to shape governance discussions. In July, it set up the World AI Cooperation Organisation, which aims to help shape global AI governance. At the Brics summit in India on Sunday, Xi Jinping proposed creating a community focused on open-source AI. US calls for regulation have gathered momentum following comments from a former Anthropic researcher, Jacob Coxon, who said last week US-China AI Race Continuesthere was a “strong chance” that people could die in the immediate future if development continues at its current pace. Since then, senior leaders in the sector have urged safeguards and a slower pace, with Anthropic’s CEO Dario Amodei calling for a slowdown in development alongside regulation. OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman said on Monday that alignment and safety techniques must remain ahead of model capabilities, and Microsoft boss Satya Nadella said AI development cannot be controlled by a handful of entities. Trump has played down the risks, saying he wants the US to maintain its lead over China because “whoever wins AI, wins”. Coxon also told the BBC that avoiding an international-scale race would require some form of coordinated slowdown with China. As Trump prepares to host Xi at the White House next week, both sides are seeking to put AI on the agenda, the South China Morning Post reported. The talks may also cover AI between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, with He overseeing economic planning that includes AI development. Join the discussion? 15 September 2026
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