China defense minister calls for greater AI oversight

China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun [AP Photo]

China’s Defense Minister Dong Jun called for international oversight of artificial intelligence, warning of risks including military misuse as Beijing and Washington compete for leadership in the technology, Bloomberg reported.

Speaking at the opening of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing on Wednesday, Dong urged countries to coordinate governance and hold security discussions covering AI, outer space and the deep sea.

Nations should “strengthen risk assessment, experience sharing, and the establishment of rules and governance,” he said.

His remarks reflect a contest between China and the United States over both AI development and the international standards governing its use. Beijing has promoted open-source technology, offering countries access to less expensive models that are slightly less advanced.

The Trump administration, meanwhile, favors deregulation and construction of AI infrastructure. Some American industry leaders have raised concerns about the risks accompanying the technology’s rapid progress.

Tensions surfaced last month when a social media account linked to state broadcaster China Central Television accused US developer Anthropic of misconduct. The account alleged that its Claude model crossed boundaries involving user data, conducted covert monitoring and transmitted website domains without permission.

US and Chinese negotiators are expected to meet in New York this weekend for discussions that include AI, the Financial Times reported, citing an unnamed American official.

Which AI models the People’s Liberation Army uses remains unclear. However, its interest in the technology is evident: at least seven university laboratories supporting China’s military have sought AI chips made by Nvidia, according to Bloomberg.

China has also emerged as a leading producer of laboratory-grown diamonds, which are viewed as a cooling material for the complex processors powering AI systems.

Beyond AI governance, Dong promised greater cooperation on military equipment and other technologies with countries needing such support.

Chinese weapons have attracted international attention since fighting between Pakistan and India in May last year. Pakistan’s military recently featured an air defense system resembling a Chinese platform in a promotional video, potentially indicating cooperation in that area.

The Xiangshan Forum brings together military officials from across the world, although Washington generally sends a delegation of junior officials.

This year, the US representative was Cynthia Carras, the Defense Department’s principal director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia. Her attendance came as the two powers prepared for talks covering a technology increasingly central to their strategic competition and to debates over security.