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China urges respect for digital sovereignty in AI race

By Thomson Reuters Aug 19, 2026 | 2:49 AM

BEIJING, Aug 19 (Reuters) – China on Wednesday urged respect for each country’s digital ​sovereignty, after a ‌report the U.S. would ask countries to choose sides in the artificial intelligence race with ‌Beijing.

China ​is opposed ⁠to taking sides ⁠and forming camps on AI, its foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at ​a regular briefing.

The U.S. is preparing to tell ⁠dozens of countries ⁠they must pick ​sides in the artificial intelligence ​race with China, warning they ‌will be excluded from a U.S.-led AI coalition if they also sign up ⁠for Beijing’s competing framework, according to a U.S. official and an ⁠internal ‌draft reviewed by ⁠Reuters.

“Each country has ​the ‌right to choose its ​partners based ⁠on its national conditions and development needs,” Lin said.

(Reporting by Ethan Wang and Liz Lee; Editing by ​Kate Mayberry)