China criticises idea it is in 'malicious competition' over AI

What the report says

China has pushed back against what it described as alarmist or confrontational language around artificial intelligence, warning that talk of “malicious competition” could undermine global AI governance. According to BBC World News, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun made the remarks on Monday in response to renewed debate over whether AI development should be slowed to reduce safety risks and to prevent any one country from gaining an edge.

The comments come amid growing pressure from some US AI leaders for stronger safeguards. BBC World News reported that Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei and others have argued for slowing development, while US President Donald Trump has emphasized keeping the United States ahead of China in advanced technology. The article also notes that some researchers and executives in the US have raised stark warnings about the possible dangers of frontier AI, including long-term existential risks.

The BBC said China has also signaled concern about AI risks in its own policy language. State security minister Chen Yixin recently called for balancing development and security, improving laws and ethics rules, and guarding against foreign intelligence and other hostile uses of AI. At the same time, Beijing has moved to shape global discussions through initiatives such as the World AI Cooperation Organisation and a recent proposal from Xi Jinping for open-source AI cooperation.

The wider backdrop is an intensifying US-China technology rivalry, with AI increasingly seen as a strategic sector. The article said possible AI regulation or cooperation may be discussed as leaders prepare for high-level meetings next week, although experts quoted by the BBC said a formal agreement between Washington and Beijing remains difficult.