{
  "id": 925428,
  "title": "US to tell partners they must pick sides in AI race with China",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/us-to-tell-partners-they-must-pick-sides-in-ai-race-with-china",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-08-15T01:23:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/east-asia/us-china-ai-race-pax-silica-waico-6320671"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The United States is preparing to inform several countries that they must choose between aligning with the US-led AI coalition, Pax Silica, or China's competing framework, according to a draft letter obtained by Reuters. The letter, addressed to the 35 signatories of a US AI Opportunity Statement, warns that countries which join China's organization will be excluded from Pax Silica. Pax Silica, launched by Washington last year, aims to secure AI supply chains and critical minerals amid a rivalry with Beijing. About two dozen countries, including Kazakhstan, Japan, Australia, and South Korea, have joined the initiative. The draft letter urges signatories to choose deliberately, as participating in both initiatives could create conflicts of interest. Kazakhstan is the only country known to have joined both initiatives, raising concerns in Washington. The US hopes that by forcing countries to pick sides, it can reduce China's access to critical resources in the AI race, potentially giving the US an edge in technological dominance.",
  "summary": "The United States is preparing to inform several countries that they must choose between aligning with the US-led AI coalition, Pax Silica, or Beijing's competing framework. According to a draft letter reviewed by Reuters, the US intends to exclude countries from the coalition if they also join China's initiative. The Pax Silica initiative, launched last year, aims to secure supply chains for AI models, semiconductors, and critical minerals amid a fierce technology rivalry with China. About two dozen countries have joined Pax Silica, including Kazakhstan, a key potential source of critical minerals that has also signed up for China's coalition, as well as close US allies such as Japan, Australia, and South Korea. The US hopes to leverage this choice to starve China of resources in the race for the most sophisticated AI, which could be used for military or economic dominance.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "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."
}