{
  "id": 8371687,
  "title": "ASEAN must navigate US-China AI rivalry: Panelists",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/asean-must-navigate-us-china-ai-rivalry-panelists",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-09-19T03:29:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Jakarta Post",
    "slug": "the-jakarta-post",
    "url": "https://www.thejakartapost.com/world/2026/09/19/asean-must-navigate-us-china-ai-rivalry-panelists.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Southeast Asia finds itself navigating a complex landscape as the United States and China engage in a fierce rivalry over artificial intelligence (AI). A panel of experts has highlighted how AI has transformed from a novel technology into a pivotal instrument of power, as exemplified by the competing AI initiatives Pax Silica and the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), led respectively by the US and China. Ali Abdullah Wibisono, an associate professor of international relations at the University of Indonesia, explained that while the US-led Pax Silica aims to establish a global AI infrastructure supply chain, the Chinese-led WAICO focuses on enhancing its member countries' AI capabilities. Washington seeks to prevent unwanted entities from accessing advanced chips and semiconductor equipment, while Beijing aims for technological self-sufficiency. Pax Silica, launched by the US in December 2025, currently has 24 signatories, including Singapore and the Philippines, both Southeast Asian nations. WAICO, established in July 2026 by China ahead of the World Artificial Intelligence Conference in Shanghai, boasts 37 member states, including Indonesia, Brunei, Malaysia, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.",
  "summary": "Southeast Asia is caught between competing AI initiatives Pax Silica and WAICO.",
  "key_points": [
    "US and China compete in AI rivalry, shaping Southeast Asia's future",
    "Pax Silica led by US, WAICO by China, both influence AI development",
    "24 nations in Pax Silica, 37 in WAICO, with ASEAN members participating"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The US-China AI rivalry forces Southeast Asia to make strategic choices, as Washington's Pax Silica and Beijing's WAICO initiatives offer competing visions for the region's AI development and global partnerships.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}