Global Courant 2023-04-25 11:00:16
China is outraged by the Biden administration’s plan to direct artificial intelligence investment away from China and to other countries, warning it could take steps to curb what it calls US “bullying” in the tech sector.
The administration has hinted for months that it is developing an executive order to keep AI and other technology-related investments, such as semiconductors and quantum computing, out of China to help the US maintain its competitive advantage. According to various reports, the government may want to launch the initiative at a meeting of the Group of Seven Countries in Japan in mid-May.
But at a briefing last week, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry said China is “strongly opposed” to the idea, accusing the US of pursuing “selfish interests” using “economic coercion”.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and President Joe Biden are likely heading into a more confrontational phase of their relationship as Biden considers ways to divert AI and other tech investments away from China. (AP Photo / Alex Brandon / File)
“The true intention of the US is to take away China’s right to development and maintain US supremacy for its selfish interests,” he said. “Such a blatant act of economic coercion and sci-tech bullying goes against the principles of market economy and fair competition, undermines the international economic and trade order, disrupts and destabilizes global industrial and supply chains, and harms the interests of the entire world.”
He warned that China would “firmly protect our rights and interests” on the matter, but did not say how. The spokesman also accused the US of using trade as a “tool and weapon in the name of national security”.
The White House declined to comment Monday on how the executive order would work and whether it will be ready for the G7 meeting in Japan. The White House also declined to comment on China’s accusatory remarks.
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The White House press team, led by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, declined to comment on China’s executive order plans or harsh response. (AP Photo / Susan Walsh)
But it is clear that any attempt by the G7 countries to discourage high-tech investment in China would further exacerbate tensions between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Several U.S. policymakers are openly predicting a Chinese invasion of Taiwan soon, raising concerns among Republicans and Democrats in Congress alike to keep the U.S. military on a par with China’s and be able to assist in the defense of Taiwan.
And earlier this year, the US shot down a surveillance balloon in US airspace that China continues to insist was a nongovernmental weather data-gathering vessel.
The Biden administration has talked about a way to keep AI and other tech investments out of China, but those tensions and others have delayed its introduction for months.
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Experts indicate that Biden’s plan may be necessary to ensure that China does not take the lead in AI. (AP Photo / Patrick Semansky / File)
In terms of AI, many experts are increasingly concerned that China can develop an AI system that exhibits the core values of the Communist Chinese Party, such as an AI chat program that avoids spouting answers that criticize the party. Technology experts said at a Senate hearing last week that a “democratic” AI standard is the desired outcome.
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“China has already said that these generative models should have socialist features,” said Shyam Sankar, chief technology officer and executive vice president of Palantir. “It shouldn’t allow for the overthrow of the state. These kinds of restrictions being baked in to the extent that that becomes the default AI for the world is very problematic.”
Pete Kasperowicz is a political editor at Fox News Digital.
