In response to recent calls from several prominent US artificial intelligence companies to slow down AI development, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has stated that spreading narratives of threat will only hinder global AI governance.
Diplomatic Response to AI Development Concerns
At a regular press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jia Kun addressed questions regarding remarks from US AI firms alleging that China’s advancements in artificial intelligence pose a national security risk. Guo Jia Kun emphasized that the development of AI is crucial for the common well-being of all humanity.
“All parties should jointly promote AI that is open, inclusive, beneficial, and geared towards good. Spreading various threat narratives, engaging in confrontation and malicious competition, will only disrupt the process of global AI governance and does not serve the interests of any party.”
Background: Calls for Slowing AI Progress
The recent discussions stem from a public call initiated by Dario Amodei, CEO of Anthropic. On social media platform X, Amodei published a lengthy post titled “We Must Pace the Frontier,” advocating for AI companies to decelerate the pace of advancing model capabilities. He proposed a three-step framework: granting employees of independent third-party assessment agencies access to monitor safety practices, fostering coordination among leading AI companies to establish safety standards, and engaging in international cooperation to manage AI risks.
Following Amodei’s post, Elon Musk, CEO of xAI, retweeted the message, stating, “Dario is right.” Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, also concurred, noting that OpenAI has been discussing the need to pace frontier AI development and found the ideas of independent monitoring and third-party access appealing, indicating OpenAI would adopt them.
US Concerns and China’s Stance
The Reuters journalist who posed the question at the press conference specifically referenced the calls from Elon Musk and others over the weekend to slow down frontier AI development, adding their view that “China’s advantages in the field of artificial intelligence may pose a national security risk to the United States.”
This exchange follows a joint statement released on September 8th by three US agencies, including the National Security Agency. The statement accused six Chinese AI companies of distilling US models and extracting proprietary knowledge without authorization. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated on September 9th that China’s AI development is a result of high-level scientific and technological self-reliance and strength. She expressed hope that the US would earnestly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and refrain from making false accusations and smearing China. Mao Ning also highlighted that both China and the US are major players in AI and should strengthen cooperation.
China’s Commitment to Global AI Governance
Regarding global AI governance, China has been actively participating in international initiatives. From July 17th to 20th, 2026, Shanghai is set to host the World Artificial Intelligence Conference and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. During this event, the National Development and Reform Commission, along with relevant departments, is expected to release the “Action Plan for AI Cooperation and Development.” The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, in conjunction with other parties, will jointly guide the release of the “Action Plan for International AI Ethics Governance.” The conference is also anticipated to adopt a chairperson’s statement, advocating for principles such as people-centeredness, AI for good, fairness, inclusivity, and collaborative governance, while emphasizing the need to strengthen international cooperation in artificial intelligence.
