US-China AI Rivalry Escalates as Beijing Rejects Push for Countries to Pick Sides

China has rejected a reported US effort to make other governments choose a side in the ongoing AI race.

The US is pushing countries that backed an AI cooperation pact to either join its own initiative or sign onto Beijing's rival framework, reportedly telling about 35 signatories they cannot stay in both.

China opposes this move, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian saying 'governments should be free to pick partners on their own terms.'

The US has been trying to pressure countries into joining its AI coalition or being shut out if they sign onto the Chinese-backed framework, but China is framing this as an attack on other countries' right to choose.