Opinion | China’s call for global AI governance is loud and clear. Is the US listening?

In late July, Shanghai hosted the World Artificial Intelligence Conference, once again showcasing China’s formidable progress in AI. From Unitree’s robot boxer to Huawei’s next-generation AI developments, the energy on the exhibition floor was palpable.

Despite Shanghai’s rainy weather, large crowds flocked to the exhibition, reflecting strong public enthusiasm. But beyond the futuristic gadgets and technical breakthroughs, this year’s conference delivered a deeper message: China’s readiness to play a constructive role in shaping global AI governance.

In his opening address, Premier Li Qiang struck a note of urgency, calling for deeper international cooperation and warning against the risks of fragmented governance in the age of rapidly advancing AI. The conference’s alternative title, “High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance”, was not just symbolic. China recognises the question is no longer whether we can innovate, but whether we can govern wisely.

This stands in stark contrast to the path taken by other powers. Days before the Shanghai event, US President Donald Trump unveiled “America’s AI Action Plan”, doubling down on great-power competition and framing AI supremacy as a matter of national security.

Indeed, many AI governance initiatives emerging in recent years, such as the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence and AI Partnership for Defence, have been framed around alliances of “like-minded” countries. While these initiatives often speak the language of ethics and responsibility, they also reflect geopolitical fault lines. China is not only rarely invited to the table but is often treated as an imagined rival or a problem to be contained. The result is not global AI governance, but fragmented spheres of trust, each side viewing the other’s intentions with suspicion.