China on Saturday released a global action plan for artificial intelligence that called for international cooperation on tech development and regulation.
🌏 1. U.S. Launches Its AI Action Plan
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On July 23, 2025, the U.S. released a comprehensive AI Action Plan under the Trump administration, focused on maintaining American global dominance in artificial intelligence. It rests on three pillars: accelerating innovation, building AI infrastructure, and leading in international AI diplomacy and security.
🇨🇳 2. China Responds with Global AI Governance Proposal
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At the World AI Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on July 26, Premier Li Qiang unveiled China’s global AI action plan, advocating the creation of a new international AI cooperation organization.
He highlighted fragmented international regulation and called for a unified governance framework managed through bodies like the UN. -
China’s plan emphasizes open-source collaboration, sharing technology especially with the Global South, and bolstering digital infrastructure across borders.
⚔️ 3. Strategic Contrast Between the Two Plans
| Focus | U.S. Strategy | China Strategy |
|---|---|---|
| Regulatory Approach | Deregulation—remove barriers to rapid innovation | Institutional governance—establish global standards |
| Economic Angle | Build national infrastructure & data center expansion | Share innovation globally, especially with developing nations |
| Governance Model | American- and ally-led frameworks | Multilateral UN-backed global body headquartered in Shanghai |
🔥 4. Why It Matters
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China’s sweeping $100 billion AI funding commitment—moving from hardware to applications and global cooperation—signals major long-term ambition.
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Recent advances, such as the launch of DeepSeek’s high-performance chatbot, have sparked market concern and demonstrated China’s growing capability to rival U.S. AI leadership.
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Chinese participation in WAIC includes global AI luminaries and over 800 companies showcasing thousands of innovations—underscoring its push to influence global standards.
🧭 5. What to Watch Next
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Development and formal launch of China’s proposed international AI organization and its operational model.
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Broader international response—especially from the EU, India, and developing countries contacted for governance collaboration.
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U.S. counters in policy forums and international partnerships, especially via newly formed AI Innovation Councils supporting American companies.
✅ Final Takeaway
The release of China’s global AI action plan—days after the U.S.—marks an overt escalation in the tech rivalry between the world’s largest economies. While Washington focuses on innovative acceleration through deregulation, Beijing is prioritizing global governance, shared resources, and inclusivity in AI development.
This dual-track approach sets the stage for a complex global AI ecosystem, where influence may shift not just through innovation, but through governance, open access, and strategic alignment.
