China launches 29-nation WAICO AI alliance, challenging US tech dominance
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged countries to cooperate on artificial intelligence and ensure no single country dominates the technology, in an apparent jab at the United States, according to Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/chinas-xi-jinping-launches-new-ai-alliance-what-is-it). Xi made the remarks at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, where China showcased technology it says rivals US prowess.
By Source Reporters Newsdesk
Fri, 17 July 2026 · 1 min read
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday urged countries to cooperate on artificial intelligence and ensure no single country dominates the technology, in an apparent jab at the United States, according to Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/chinas-xi-jinping-launches-new-ai-alliance-what-is-it). Xi made the remarks at the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, where China showcased technology it says rivals US prowess.
At the heart of Beijing's push is a new coalition of 29 nations, the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), formally established on July 16, Al Jazeera reported (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/chinas-xi-jinping-launches-new-ai-alliance-what-is-it). The group's founding members include major Global South nations such as Indonesia, Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa, Senegal, Russia and Pakistan, and it is headquartered in Shanghai.
"AI development should not be a solo performance by a single country, but a symphony of international cooperation," Xi said, according to Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/chinas-xi-jinping-launches-new-ai-alliance-what-is-it). He also cautioned against "overstretching the national security concept in the field of AI," language widely read as criticism of Washington's export controls.
Analysts cited by Al Jazeera say Beijing is likely to use WAICO to shape how AI policy is framed at the United Nations, with the backing of middle-power and low-income allies whose numbers carry weight at the UN (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/chinas-xi-jinping-launches-new-ai-alliance-what-is-it). Governance expert Arindrajit Basu, writing for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, argued that as Washington retreats from global AI norms-setting, "Beijing is keen to demonstrate its global leadership."
The launch comes amid a broader US–China "chip war," Al Jazeera noted (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/17/chinas-xi-jinping-launches-new-ai-alliance-what-is-it). In May, the US Commerce Department affirmed restrictions on semiconductor shipments to subsidiaries of Chinese firms, and Beijing has retaliated by barring exports of dual-use technology and critical minerals to US companies.
*Source Reporters corrects errors promptly. Report corrections to corrections@sourcereporters.com.*