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On the eve of the Global Artificial Intelligence Summit, the British government announced that it would invite China to participate, which aroused widespread attention from the international community. Despite the obstruction of countries such as Japan, British Foreign Secretary Cleverley has firmly stated that China's absence as a "leading player" in the field of artificial intelligence will make it impossible to effectively control the related risks. This decision not only reveals China's important position in the global AI field, but also reflects the UK's strategic calculations on the global technological and political stage.
British Foreign Secretary Cleverley
China: an indispensable "leading player"
China's breakthroughs and contributions in the field of artificial intelligence cannot be ignored. From deep learning, natural language processing to unmanned driving, Chinese research teams and enterprises have a significant impact not only domestically but also internationally. Therefore, the UK government has made it clear that without China's participation, the global AI risks will not be effectively controlled. This is also shared by most G7 members, although countries such as Japan are opposed for various reasons.
Anti-China sentiment in the West and obstruction by Japan
The decision to invite China to the conference was not all smooth sailing. Countries such as Japan have tried to block Chinese participation out of concerns about China's rise and its competitive advantage in artificial intelligence. In addition, there is a certain degree of anti-China sentiment within Western countries, fearing that China may conduct "espionage" at the summit. However, these concerns are based more on unease about China's rise than on actual security considerations.
Strategic considerations for the UK
The British government attaches great importance to this summit, and the strategic considerations behind it are also worth paying attention to. First, the UK wants to use the summit to demonstrate its influence on the global stage, especially after completing a no-deal Brexit. Second, the UK is also aware that no one is complete without China's involvement in the development of AI rules.
Global AI rulemaking: diversity and consensus
In the context of the rapid development of global artificial intelligence, the formulation of rules and standards is particularly important. The British government has made it clear that this goal will be difficult to achieve without China's involvement. It also means that, globally, any rulemaking that attempts to exclude an important player is unrealistic. Diverse perspectives and global consensus are key to developing effective, fair and sustainable AI rules.
U.S.-China Competition: The Elephant Behind the Summit
It is worth noting that Sino-US relations are also a factor that cannot be ignored in this summit. The United States has clearly regarded China as its number one rival in the field of artificial intelligence, and has elevated it to the level of "national security". Against this backdrop, the UK's decision can also be seen as a balancing strategy aimed at easing tensions between China and the United States, while also gaining more strategic space for itself.
Conclusion: Global cooperation and geopolitics are intertwined
The UK government's invitation to China to participate in the Global AI Summit not only reflects China's importance in this field, but also reveals complex international political and geostrategic considerations. At a time when global technology competition and political games are becoming increasingly fierce, this decision has undoubtedly added new variables to future global cooperation and rule-making.
This summit will be an important milestone in the development of global artificial intelligence, which will not only affect the strategic layout of countries in the field of science and technology, but also may redefine the new pattern of international relations. Therefore, all parties should abandon prejudice and hostility, and jointly promote the healthy and sustainable development of AI with an open and cooperative attitude.