China Proposes Global AI Body Amid US Rivalry
Xi Jinping used the Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju on November 1, 2025, to put forward a major initiative: the creation of a global body for artificial intelligence (AI) governance. He proposed the “World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization” to establish international rules and promote AI as a “public good”. The headquarters for the proposed body could be located in Shanghai.
Strategic Counterpoint to the US
Xi’s proposal comes in contrast to the Donald Trump administration’s stance, which has resisted binding international regulation of AI. China is positioning itself as a leader of a multilateral framework for AI governance, signalling both a technological and diplomatic challenge to the current US-dominated order. Analysts say the move underscores Beijing’s ambition to expand its influence in global governance arenas.
Wider Implications for Technology and Diplomacy
The initiative arrives amid intensifying competition between China and the United States for dominance in AI, semiconductors, and critical technology supply chains. If the proposed body gains traction, it could reshape global standards, influence rules around data, AI ethics, open-source collaboration, and diffuse China’s model of governance across the Global South. However, significant hurdles remain, including securing buy-in from other major powers and reconciling differing national approaches to AI regulation.
