China-US pact on super intelligence calls for Asean alert

As the United States and China commence discussions on strategic terminology, ASEAN should remain vigilant. At their September summit, President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping agreed to establish a dialogue on "super intelligence" (SI), with a bilateral communication channel for significant SI incidents. Their next SI summit will take place in November 2026.

The Chinese framing of the relationship as a "constructive relationship of strategic stability" signals an intent to balance competition with cooperation. While this should not be misconstrued as a formal alliance, it suggests a willingness to treat China as a constructive strategic partner rather than just an adversary. ASEAN must recognize this shift, as US-China relations have historically been characterized by rivalry across various issues.

However, the administration's use of "super intelligence" instead of "artificial intelligence" is noteworthy. While the two terms have distinct technical meanings, the administration appears to be employing "super intelligence" more broadly to replace AI. Nonetheless, creating a US-China dialogue on super intelligence is a matter of strategic importance, as it allows for the discussion of risks and benefits associated with advanced AI.

As AI becomes more powerful, misunderstandings between the controlling powers can become increasingly dangerous. ASEAN, home to nearly 700 million people, is rapidly gaining recognition in the data centre, semiconductor, cloud infrastructure, and AI industries. However, much of the frontier technology remains controlled outside Southeast Asia, leading to potential technological and strategic dependence.

Therefore, ASEAN must develop its own position on super intelligence, focusing on meaningful human control over autonomous systems, stronger cyber security standards, and sovereign protection of data. ASEAN should also ensure that regional conversations about advanced AI do not become exclusively a US-China affair, using ASEAN Plus Three, the East Asia Summit, and other ASEAN-led mechanisms to facilitate this.

The encouraging US-China rapprochement on terminology and strategic stability presents both an opportunity and a warning. While competition remains, it is evident that such competition can coexist with constructive strategic cooperation in the face of systemic dangers. ASEAN must secure a seat at the table when rules governing these dangers are established, as the age of super intelligence looms and it cannot afford to be left out of the decision-making process.