Chinese scholar warns US AI decoupling impossible
Zheng Yongnian, a Chinese policy adviser, said that US AI development cannot be separated from China and that both nations must avoid a cold war over AI. He made the remarks ahead of the Xi-Trump summit where AI governance is expected to be discussed.
Zheng Yongnian, who leads the school of public policy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Shenzhen campus, framed the US-China AI relationship as deeply interdependent, arguing that American technological progress relies on Chinese contributions. He characterized current international AI rules as products of raw power dynamics rather than cooperative consensus.
His comments arrive as Xi Jinping makes his first US state visit since 2015, receiving a personal airport welcome from President Trump. The summit agenda places AI governance alongside broader efforts to manage superpower rivalry, with both sides seeking common ground despite intensifying competition in the technology sector.
This story could shape public understanding of US-China technological relations, potentially influencing investor confidence and tech industry planning. If decoupling proves unfeasible as Zheng suggests, businesses may need to navigate continued cross-border dependencies amid political tensions. The summit's AI discussions could also affect global governance frameworks, with outcomes potentially impacting researchers, developers, and consumers who rely on integrated US-China supply chains and innovation ecosystems.