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| Crossed Flags of The United States and The People's Republic of China |
US Presses Partners to Choose Side in AI Competition With China
WASHINGTON — August 14, 2026
The United States is preparing to warn countries working with Washington on artificial intelligence that joining a competing China-led initiative could cost them access to a U.S.-backed technology coalition, according to a U.S. official and an internal draft reviewed by Reuters. The move would deepen pressure on governments to choose between the two major AI ecosystems.
The draft letter from the U.S. State Department is intended for 35 countries that signed an AI Opportunity Statement in June. It warns that countries could be excluded from the U.S.-led Pax Silica framework if they also join competing initiatives whose goals conflict with Washington’s approach.
Pax Silica was created to strengthen cooperation on artificial intelligence, semiconductor chips and critical minerals needed to produce advanced technology. More than 20 countries have joined the initiative, including Japan, Australia and South Korea, as well as Kazakhstan, which is also participating in a China-led AI group.
The draft letter says membership in Pax Silica represents a commitment rather than simply participation in another international organization. It urges countries to make a deliberate choice and says the U.S. framework cannot be combined with competing initiatives if their expectations are incompatible.
The United States has not specifically named China in the draft, and it remains unclear when the letter will be sent or whether its wording could change. The State Department declined to comment on what it described as leaked internal documents.
The issue has become particularly sensitive because Kazakhstan is currently the only country known to have joined both the U.S. and Chinese initiatives. Kazakhstan is an important potential source of critical minerals, making its participation valuable to both sides.
China launched the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization in July under President Xi Jinping. Beijing has promoted greater access to open-weight AI models, which allow users and developers to inspect and adapt key parts of the technology, as an alternative to systems controlled by major U.S. companies.
The competition between Washington and Beijing has intensified as Chinese AI developers have made rapid progress. Chinese open-weight models are increasingly competing with proprietary systems developed by U.S. companies such as OpenAI and Anthropic.
The U.S. strategy is closely linked to control of the supply chains that support AI development. Advanced AI systems require large amounts of computing power, semiconductor chips and other infrastructure, while critical minerals are essential for many of the technologies used to build that infrastructure.
Pax Silica seeks to encourage joint investment and cooperation among participating countries while reducing dependence on countries considered strategic competitors. Members can gain access to shared investment opportunities in AI-related projects, while signatories of the AI Opportunity Statement have committed themselves to a common approach to cooperation with Washington.
Critical minerals are another major part of the competition. China has established a strong position in the global supply of several minerals used in advanced technologies and has previously used export restrictions as leverage during trade tensions with the United States.
Washington has responded by seeking new supplies within the United States and from allied countries. Kazakhstan has attracted particular attention because of its significant mineral reserves and its strategic position in Central Asia.
A U.S. official involved in the discussions said Washington wants to make clear that countries cannot simultaneously position themselves as trusted partners in the U.S. technology system while joining a Chinese initiative designed around a competing approach.
China’s embassy in Washington criticized efforts to turn technology and trade into geopolitical divisions. It said politicizing these issues could slow the development of AI globally.
The dispute reflects a broader struggle over who will shape the rules, supply chains and technologies behind artificial intelligence. As AI becomes increasingly important to economic competitiveness and national security, both Washington and Beijing are seeking stronger support from countries that control important resources, markets and technical capabilities.
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