Asean must watch US-China deal on AI

President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping are set to meet in Washington, where the conversation will likely focus on trade, tariffs, and the broader trajectory of Sino-American relations. However, the discussion may turn to artificial intelligence (AI), a topic of increasing importance in international relations. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent suggested the possibility of an AI safety notification mechanism between the two countries.

While this proposal is still preliminary, the fact that the US and China are even discussing such a mechanism is significant. Malaysia and ASEAN nations must be vigilant, as AI is becoming a crucial organizing principle of international power. The US and China both want to maintain technological leadership, but they also recognize the need for cooperation to prevent catastrophic cyber incidents and other AI-related disasters from escalating into geopolitical crises.

ASEAN, sitting between the US and China, must find a way to balance its economic ties with both powers while ensuring technological sovereignty and autonomy. The region can contribute to AI governance through dialogue and confidence-building, but it should not become an exclusive US-China condominium. Malaysia and ASEAN should support dialogue around AI safety, establish a regional reporting mechanism, and foster technological relationships without sacrificing strategic autonomy.

This summit marks a pivotal moment in international relations, as the AI age raises the question of whether competing powers can coexist while maintaining control over their rapidly advancing technological capabilities.