China Rejects AI 'Threat Narratives' as US-China Cooperation Stalls

China has publicly rejected what it characterizes as "threat narratives" surrounding artificial intelligence governance, warning against "confrontation and malicious competition" in the global AI race. The statement from China's foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun comes as leading US AI executives issue increasingly dire warnings about existential risks from advanced AI systems.

Guo told reporters Monday that such narratives "serve only to disrupt the process of global AI governance and are not in anyone's interest." He called for all parties to advance AI "in a manner that is open, inclusive, beneficial to all, and oriented toward the good," according to the BBC.

Why it matters

The clash reveals a fundamental impasse in global AI governance at a critical moment. As frontier AI systems grow more capable, the world's two dominant AI powers appear unable to coordinate on safety measures, potentially accelerating a competitive dynamic that both sides acknowledge carries serious risks. The outcome will shape not just technological development but the strategic balance of the next industrial era.

Diverging priorities complicate coordination

The Chinese response follows recent calls from Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei for slowing AI development—but only in ways that prevent China from gaining advantage. Last week, former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxson warned of "a strong chance that we could all die in the immediate future" if current development pace continues.

President Donald Trump has dismissed such concerns, stating his priority is ensuring the US develops AI "faster than China" because "whoever wins AI, wins." That stance directly contradicts growing calls from industry leaders including OpenAI's Sam Altman and Microsoft's Satya Nadella for stronger regulation and safety measures.

Cooperation deemed 'next to impossible'

Chang Jun Yan, assistant professor at Singapore's S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, told the BBC that US-China agreement on AI regulation is "next to impossible." He noted that as part of each nation's core security interests, "cooperation in taking things slower and more safely in relation to AI, is very, very unlikely."

Yet both nations have acknowledged AI risks. Chinese state security minister Chen Yixin wrote Sunday that China must "balance development and security" and strengthen risk prevention to "safeguard the interests of the people and national security." He warned of "hostile forces" potentially weaponizing AI while calling for international cooperation.

Technical incentives exist despite political barriers

Kenton Thibaut, senior resident China fellow at the Atlantic Council, argues that "strong signals" suggest Washington and Beijing share understanding of frontier risks. China has "technical reasons" to collaborate, she notes, as cooperation would allow Chinese developers to observe how models perform outside China and identify vulnerabilities.

China established the World AI Cooperation Organisation in July to shape global governance. At the Brics summit Sunday, Chinese leader Xi Jinping proposed creating a community for open-source AI development.

As Trump prepares to host Xi at the White House next week, both sides are attempting to include AI on the agenda, the South China Morning Post reports. The topic may also feature in talks between US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, who oversees China's economic planning including AI development.

Chasen Nevett, managing director at Hong Kong-based Forani Investments, framed the stakes starkly: "If China establishes a durable lead in frontier AI, this will not be viewed in Washington as losing a technology race. It will be viewed as losing part of the strategic infrastructure of the next industrial era."

These details were first reported by the BBC, with additional reporting by Osmond Chia.