China's defense chief urges tighter global rules for AI as tech rivalry heats up

What Dong put on the table

Using the opening session of Beijing's marquee defense gathering to set the tone, Dong Jun urged governments to work together on how emerging technologies are managed. He said officials should consult one another on governance and actively pursue security dialogues that include artificial intelligence, activities in outer space and matters related to the deep sea. He also pressed for more rigorous risk assessments, more sharing of experience, and efforts to set rules and improve governance. Alongside that, Dong said China would expand cooperation on equipment and other technologies with countries that require support.

The forum convenes military officials from across the globe and typically sees only a lower tier US presence. This year, Washington dispatched Cynthia Carras, who serves as the Pentagon's lead official for China, Taiwan and Mongolia.

The AI backdrop: rules, chips and rivalry

Beijing has been promoting an open‑source tack that offers more affordable, if slightly less advanced, AI models to other countries. In the US, the Trump administration advocates looser rules and accelerating infrastructure expansion, even as some American AI leaders caution about the dangers tied to rapid advancement.

Tensions around the tech were on display last month when a social media account tied to China Central Television accused Anthropic PBC of misconduct. The post singled out Anthropic's Claude model, alleging it exceeded user data limits, conducted covert monitoring and transmitted website domains without authorization.

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US and Chinese negotiators are expected to meet in New York this weekend to discuss topics that include AI, according to an earlier Financial Times report citing an unnamed US official.

Military tech priorities and signals to watch

Which specific AI systems the People's Liberation Army relies on is not publicly known, but the emphasis it places on the technology is evident. No fewer than seven academic laboratories backing China's armed forces have tried to procure advanced AI chips from Nvidia. China has also emerged as a leader in lab‑grown diamonds, viewed as an important cooling material for complex processors.

Chinese weaponry has drawn wider attention since the Pakistan and India conflict in May last year. More recently, a promotional video from Pakistan's military showcased an air defense system that looks similar to a Chinese platform, suggesting possible collaboration.

What this means for your portfolio

AI governance is now part of the security conversation, which means the debate over open‑source models, access to chips and even cooling materials could shape demand across hardware, software and defense supply chains. If New York talks produce momentum, expect policy shifts to ripple through which technologies get prioritized and purchased. Keep an eye on concrete moves, not just the speeches.

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