China's AI alliance expands as US pressures countries to choose sides
Global AI competition deepens with growing polarization between tech superpowers.
1WAICO's rapid expansion
China's World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO) launched in July 2024 with 29 members. Within just one month, it gained 9 new members, reaching 38 countries. This growth coincides with the US drafting a letter urging nations to 'choose between two camps.' WAICO was established in Shanghai on July 16 with 29 signatory countries.
2US diplomatic move
The US State Department plans to send letters to 35 countries, warning against 'duplicative initiatives.' The draft letter includes the phrase 'to be part of everything is to be part of nothing.' However, the letter remains unsent and doesn't explicitly name China or WAICO. Meanwhile, the US-led Pax Silica alliance has grown to 25 members.
3China's digital sovereignty push
China's UN position paper emphasizes 'respect for digital sovereignty,' released on July 23. The document asserts countries' rights to 'independently choose their paths of digital intelligent technology development.' This aligns with China's Global AI Governance Initiative launched in October 2023. President Xi Jinping argues against technological monopolization by single nations.
4New front in tech diplomacy
China extends its AI influence through open-source models. Alibaba's Qwen family reached 3 billion downloads in six months, spawning over 300,000 derivative models. In comparison, Google's Gemma achieved 418 million and Meta's Llama 227 million downloads in 2026. China also pledged 5,000 AI training spots for developing countries, though unverified.
5Europe's digital sovereignty approach
Europe has been shaping its own digital sovereignty concept for two years. The EU focuses on infrastructure and data control, differing from China's emphasis on independence from foreign governments. The UN established an independent AI scientific panel in August 2025 and held its first global dialogue in Geneva this July.
6Balancing global competition
Overlap exists between WAICO's 38 members and Pax Silica's 25. The US letter aims to eliminate this overlap. Chinese analysts accuse the US of trying to 'split the global market in two with a digital curtain.' Li Yong from China Society for WTO Studies openly criticized this strategy in Global Times.
7UN's neutral platform effort
The United Nations created an independent AI scientific panel and global governance dialogue in August 2025. The first dialogue occurred in Geneva this July. However, WAICO established its secretariat in Shanghai while the US letter remains undelivered, adding uncertainty to international dynamics.
8Future of tech wars
Global AI competition has evolved beyond technological supremacy to diplomatic alliance-building. China's open-source diplomacy contrasts with US pressure tactics, representing divergent approaches. This polarization forces developing nations into difficult choices and suggests a potential new Cold War scenario in technology.