China rejects US calls to slow AI development, warns of disrupted global governance
China’s Foreign Ministry rejected calls from U.S. tech leaders, including Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, to slow AI development, calling such warnings “fearmongering” and “vicious competition” that disrupt global AI governance. Beijing released its AI Safety Governance Framework 3.0, assessing risks including AI misuse for biological weapons. The exchange underscores deepening US-China rivalry over AI, with China accelerating development despite U.S. export restrictions and diplomatic pressure ahead of a Trump-Xi meeting.
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Cross-source coverage
Common ground
- Both sides agree that the U.S. call for a coordinated AI slowdown is contradictory while it imposes export controls on China.
- There is agreement that whoever deploys AI at scale first will set global technical standards and safety norms.
- Both sides acknowledge that neither the U.S. nor China has binding, enforceable AI safety regulations with independent oversight.
- All participants recognize that the AI race is not a zero-sum game, as compute is abundant and talent is global.
Points of contention
- The Eastern Agent argues U.S. export controls are about maintaining hegemony, while the Western Agent says they are necessary for national security against Chinese theft and espionage.
- The Western Agent claims China's AI Safety Framework 3.0 lacks independent verification and is just a press release, while the Eastern Agent says it is a concrete step that the U.S. has not matched.
- The Eastern Agent insists China respects sovereignty and multilateralism, while the Western Agent argues China uses sovereignty as a shield while violating others' rights through forced tech transfers and hacking.
- The Western Agent says the U.S. has open democratic debate on AI, while the Eastern Agent counters that American labs self-regulate behind closed doors with no public accountability.
Blind spots
- Both sides overlook that their own actions—U.S. export controls and China's forced tech transfers—triggered the other's defensive responses, creating a cycle neither admits.
- Neither side fully acknowledges that the real prize is standard-setting, not safety, and both use safety rhetoric as cover for strategic advantage.
- Both ignore the possibility that open-source AI breakthroughs could make the race less about national control and more about global collaboration.
WorldAttention’s read
The debate reveals that the U.S.-China AI rivalry is less about safety and more about who gets to set global rules and standards. The U.S. wants to freeze its lead through export controls, while China wants to race ahead commercially while pushing for UN-led governance. Neither side has binding, verifiable safety regulations—the U.S. relies on corporate self-governance, China on domestic documents without independent audits. Both are building walls: the U.S. physical ones through chip blockades, China digital ones through censorship and state control. The honest truth is that neither wants real global regulation; each wants to be the regulator. Until both admit this, the safety debate will remain a proxy for power, and the real risk—both racing so fast they skip basic safety testing—will go unaddressed.
Reporting timeline
Anthropic executive says US must lead on AI safety ahead of Trump-Xi meeting
In a post on X, Sarah Heck, a representative from AI company Anthropic, stated that the United States must maintain its leadership in artificial intelligence technology, arguing that safety cannot be achieved from a secondary position. The comment comes ahead of a scheduled meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next week in Washington, D.C. Heck emphasized that the U.S. can achieve continued AI leadership through proactive governance, balanced oversight, and the establishment of international standards. The statement reflects ongoing concerns about global competition in AI development and the intersection of technology policy with high-level diplomacy between the two largest economies.
Read sourceBloomberg Opinion: US Can Slow AI Development and Maintain Lead Over China
A Bloomberg opinion article argues that the United States can slow the pace of artificial intelligence development and maintain its lead over China. It notes that when Chinese President Xi Jinping visits Washington next week, AI will be a top agenda item. The dialogue between the US and China, launched earlier this year, has become urgent due to concerns about runaway AI, prompting calls to slow innovation in frontier areas. The article states that a pause by American labs only makes sense if matched by restraint from China. It concludes that the US faces a difficult choice on whether to seek such restraint primarily through diplomacy or coercive pressure.
Read sourceChina's Defense Minister Calls for Stronger Global Regulation of Artificial Intelligence
China's Defense Minister Dong Jun called for stronger global regulation of artificial intelligence at a defense forum in Beijing, as the new technology intensifies competition between the United States and China. Dong Jun urged nations worldwide to engage in consultations on governance and actively participate in security dialogues on areas including artificial intelligence, outer space, and the deep sea, citing concerns over the misuse of AI in the military domain. The statement reflects China's position on the need for international oversight of AI, particularly in military applications, amid growing US-China technological rivalry.
Read sourceShow 9 older updatesHide older updates
China Assesses AI Biological Weapon Risks, Releases Safety Governance Framework 3.0
On September 15, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed questions about China's assessment of risks from frontier AI, including the potential misuse of AI to create biological weapons. Responding to reports that U.S. tech leaders have called for slowing AI development, Guo stated that China has noted these remarks and consistently balances development with security. He highlighted that Chinese authorities released the 'AI Safety Governance Framework 3.0' the previous day, which updates AI safety risk classifications and proposes optimized technical and governance measures. Guo reaffirmed China's support for using the United Nations as the primary channel for multilateral AI governance and expressed willingness to work with all countries to build a fair and reasonable global AI governance system that promotes inclusive and beneficial AI development.
Read sourceChina Releases AI Safety Framework 3.0, Assesses Risks of AI in Biological Weapons
On September 15, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun addressed questions at a regular press conference regarding U.S. tech leaders' calls to slow down cutting-edge AI development. Guo stated that China has noted these remarks and consistently balances development and security, taking AI risks seriously. He announced that Chinese authorities had just released the 'AI Safety Governance Framework 3.0,' which reviews AI safety risk classifications and offers recommendations for technical responses and governance measures. Guo emphasized China's support for the United Nations as the primary channel for multilateral AI governance and expressed willingness to work with all countries to build a fair and reasonable global AI governance system, promoting inclusive and beneficial AI development. The response specifically addressed risks such as AI being used to manufacture biological weapons.
China's Foreign Ministry Warns AI Fearmongering Could Harm Global Governance
In a post on X, China's Foreign Ministry addressed the global AI panic, stating that AI should remain 'open and inclusive.' The ministry warned that fearmongering, confrontation, and 'vicious competition' could harm global governance. The post also noted that Beijing appears to have no appetite for slowing down in the AI race, signaling a continued commitment to rapid development despite international concerns. This statement reflects China's official position on AI governance, advocating for cooperation over conflict while implicitly rejecting calls for a moratorium or slowdown in AI advancement.
Read sourceChina Rejects US Frontier Labs' Call to Slow AI Development, Accelerates Efforts
In a direct counterpoint to the near-unanimous call from America's frontier AI labs to moderate development pace, China has signaled it is accelerating its AI efforts. After Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei urged companies to slow down, China's Foreign Ministry issued a statement rejecting what it called 'fear mongering, confrontation, and vicious competition,' arguing such tactics disrupt global AI governance. The Ministry asserted that AI development 'bears on the common well-being of all humanity.' The post's author, who reports having spoken with Chinese model providers, states that China is 'accelerating full steam ahead' in AI development, suggesting a widening divergence between US and Chinese approaches to frontier AI governance.
China Warns Fearmongering and Confrontation Disrupt Global AI Governance, Serving No One's Interest
China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement responding to an essay by Dario Amodei, warning that 'fearmongering, confrontation, and vicious competition will only disrupt the process of global AI governance, which serves no one's interest.' The statement, reported by China's state-backed Global Times, criticized Amodei's AI slowdown plan as a strategy to widen America's lead over China. The response underscores Beijing's stance against what it perceives as competitive tactics that could hinder international cooperation on AI regulation and development.
Read sourceChina Rejects U.S. Tech Leaders' Calls to Slow AI Development, Calls Warnings Fearmongering
In a breaking development, China has officially rejected calls from U.S. technology leaders to slow down its artificial intelligence development. The Chinese government characterized the warnings from American tech executives as 'fearmongering,' signaling a firm commitment to advancing its AI capabilities despite international concerns. This stance underscores the growing geopolitical tensions surrounding AI competition between the United States and China, with Beijing dismissing external pressure to decelerate its technological progress. The rejection comes amid ongoing debates about AI safety and global governance, where U.S. leaders have urged caution to prevent potential risks. China's response indicates it will continue its aggressive AI investment and development strategy, prioritizing national technological sovereignty over calls for a coordinated slowdown.
Read sourceChina rejects 'malicious competition' narrative in AI race with US
China has criticized what it calls 'threat narratives' over AI governance, warning against 'engaging in confrontation and malicious competition.' The response follows Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei's calls for a slowdown in AI development that would prevent China from pulling ahead. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun stated that such narratives 'serve only to disrupt the process of global AI governance.' The article highlights the deep US-China rivalry in AI, with experts like Singapore's Chang Jun Yan saying cooperation on AI regulation is 'next to impossible' due to national security interests. Despite US export bans on chips, Chinese AI innovation continues through open-source technology and government backing. Chinese state security minister Chen Yixin warned of 'hostile forces' using AI. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump downplayed AI risks, prioritizing maintaining the US lead over China. China recently established the World AI Cooperation Organisation, and Xi Jinping proposed an open-source AI community at the BRICS summit. The article notes that both Washington and Beijing share understanding of frontier risks, according to Atlantic Council fellow Kenton Thibaut.
Read sourceChina rejects AI slowdown proposal, accuses US of technological barriers and regulatory monopolies
A post on X reports that China has rejected a proposal to slow down artificial intelligence development, with the Global Times accusing the United States of attempting to curb China's AI progress through technological barriers and regulatory monopolies. The state-run tabloid described the proposal as a 'silent AI Cold War' that is 'hypocritical and short-sighted.' China's Foreign Ministry used more diplomatic language, stating that 'fearmongering, confrontation and vicious competition will only disrupt the process of global AI governance which serves no one’s interest.' The post, citing Reuters and AP, concludes that Beijing supports international AI governance but rejects a slowdown combined with US restrictions on Chinese compute and model development. The author declares the slowdown 'over before it even started.'
Read sourceChina Says AI Threat Narratives Disrupt Global Governance After U.S. Business Leaders Call for Slowdown
China's Foreign Ministry responded to calls from U.S. business leaders to slow down artificial intelligence development, stating that spreading threat narratives, engaging in confrontation, and pursuing malicious competition will only disrupt the global governance process of AI and is not in the interest of any party. The statement, reported by Reuters via tradealpha, reflects Beijing's position on international AI governance amid growing debate over the pace and risks of AI advancement. The ministry did not specify which U.S. business leaders or their specific proposals, but the comment comes as global policymakers and tech executives increasingly clash over AI safety, regulation, and competitive dynamics between the United States and China.