How China Plans to Dominate the World in Artificial Intelligence?

In 2017, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a sobering warning about the future of AI, asserting that the country that dominates the field will be able to shape the future of the world.

This is all the more compelling in the current geopolitical context, where the US and China are focusing on AI as a new battleground in the global power struggle. This is clearly demonstrated by the significant increase in AI-related initiatives, policies, and activities that both powers have promoted in recent times.

While US AI moves, along with efforts by the European Union (particularly the EU AI Act, the world’s first comprehensive AI law), regularly dominate the media, China’s approach to AI has received less attention.

Aside from in-depth academic analysis that is largely inaccessible to the public, information about China's AI strategy is largely presented through a biased lens that sometimes fails to accurately reflect the true nature and implications of these policies.

The following is a summary of the strategies China is pursuing to achieve global AI dominance. Drawing on a review of key Chinese AI policy documents and extensive analysis, this paper sheds light on the most prominent manifestations of China’s strategies. These strategies are intended not only to shape AI governance on a global scale, but also to lay the foundation for China to lead in AI development at the international level.

Cognitive AI is a strategic technology for competing on a global scale

China views AI as a strategic technology not only to consolidate its position among the innovation leaders, but also to deal with the challenges and opportunities that AI brings to national security.

In its 2017 Next Generation AI Development Plan (NGAIDP), China highlighted the increasingly complex challenges it faces in the context of national security and fierce international competition in a rapidly evolving world.

China asserts that it is necessary to "look out into the world, elevate AI development to the national strategic level with a systematic approach, proactively plan, and firmly grasp the strategic initiative in the new stage of international AI competition." This is to build new competitive advantages, expand development space, and effectively safeguard national security.

China seems to have a deep understanding of the revolutionary impact of AI systems on global society and economy, and has clearly oriented its development strategy accordingly. With the ambition of becoming a “global science and technology powerhouse,” China has adopted a focused and carefully planned approach to AI, not only to create a competitive advantage in new areas but also to use AI as a tool to firmly protect national security interests.

Maintain awareness of AI's strengths and weaknesses

In an effort to leverage AI to enhance its global competitiveness, China has focused on strengthening areas where it has outstanding strengths. After years of continuous accumulation, China has made significant achievements in the field of AI, according to NGAIDP.

Specifically, this country ranks second in the world in the number of international scientific and technological articles published and the number of patents granted. At the same time, China has also achieved significant breakthroughs in a number of strategic core technologies.

China continues to highlight areas where it is leading and has achieved breakthrough technological achievements, including voice recognition, image recognition, industrial and service robots, intelligent surveillance, and biometric identification technologies.

However, China is realistic and cautious about its capabilities, acknowledging areas for improvement. It recognizes that, despite significant achievements in the areas mentioned, there is still a large gap between China's "general level of AI development" and other developed countries. In particular, China is focusing on making important progress in fundamental areas such as basic theory, core algorithms, key equipment, high-end chips, and other strategic technologies.

China aims to urgently address these and other challenges by drastically improving basic infrastructure, perfecting policies and regulations, and building a unified standards system.

Track global trends in AI development and seize opportunities

To realize its AI plans, China is not rushing into action haphazardly or scattering resources. Instead, China is astute in identifying and making the most of opportunities. According to NGAIDP, China will “accurately grasp global AI development trends, find key opportunities for breakthroughs, and guide the main development momentum.”

China plans to closely monitor the development of global AI through studies assessing overall trends and proactive research and development (R&D) efforts, aiming to explore key frontiers in AI development. By seizing opportunities that arise in key areas and tracking trends, China hopes to lead the world while also setting new trends for itself.

Take advantage of being a first mover in AI development

A term that frequently appears in China's AI policy documents is "first-mover advantage," clearly reflecting the country's intention to promote the exploration and application of advanced AI systems.

To realize this goal, China's Ministry of Education released the AI ​​Action Plan for Higher Education Institutions in 2018. The plan states that one of its key goals is: "China can achieve a first-mover advantage in AI development."

This implies that China is well aware that the special benefits from AI will only go to the first movers, and it is actively working to make these benefits a reality.

Allocate resources purposefully

As the saying goes, money makes everything go, and AI is no exception, something China is fully aware of. According to NGAIDP, China will “make full use of all available financial, infrastructure, and reserve resources, and make comprehensive plans for the allocation of innovation resources both domestically and internationally.”

China plans to leverage the participation of financial management experts to provide input on the use of policy incentives, thereby optimizing the allocation of resources to promote innovation on a global scale.

Therefore, to make its vision of becoming a global science and technology power a reality, China is proactively prioritizing the allocation of financial and other resources strategically in both domestic and international policies.

Achieving theoretical and technological breakthroughs in AI

As many countries cut budgets, funding for basic science is often negatively affected, as the benefits are not always clear or easy to apply. China, however, has identified basic science as a key area that will not only provide the foundation for developing world-leading AI systems, but also drive its economic rise as a global power.

NGAIDP asserts that "by 2025, China will achieve major breakthroughs in basic AI theory, with some technologies and applications reaching world-leading levels. AI will become a key driving force behind China's industrial upgrading and economic transformation."

The action plan also reflects China's strong ambition to take the field of next-generation AI further, with a commitment to "achieve unique achievements with international influence" and "demonstrate world-class level in theoretical research, advanced technology and applications".

By making breakthroughs in new-generation AI technology theory and systems, China hopes to contribute to AI applications in areas such as smart manufacturing, smart medicine and national defense construction, all of which are expected to expand and strengthen the country's economy.

The results of these efforts are already starting to become apparent. Since 2020, China has led the world in the number of AI publications, and by 2022, the country has filed the highest number of AI patents. These achievements are underpinned by China’s growing domestic market and lax privacy regulations, which have facilitated the rapid development of AI.

Participate in global markets and promote globalization

China hopes that the cumulative impact of theoretical and technological breakthroughs in AI will increase its influence in the global market. NGAIDP predicts that China will achieve a “world-leading level” in AI theory, technology and applications by 2030, making it “the world’s main AI innovation center.”

China also aims to produce tangible results from the application of AI in smart economic and social arrangements that will build a solid foundation to elevate the country to the status of an economic powerhouse among innovative nations in the global market.

In addition, China is determined to actively support domestic AI enterprises and brands to achieve global leadership and facilitate international cooperation with leading foreign AI enterprises and research institutes.

The Three-Year AI Action Plan and Implementation Program (Internet+ Plan) outlines China's detailed roadmap to promote cooperation with related countries to enhance research, development and application of AI technology. The plan focuses on integrating domestic and foreign innovation resources, enhancing the innovation capacity and international competitiveness of the AI ​​industry.

In addition, China pledges to support industry associations, industrial alliances and business service organizations in building service platforms, and provide international cooperation opportunities and global innovation support for innovative enterprises in the AI ​​field.

At the same time, China also aims to attract foreign investment in AI research and development, thereby increasing its power and influence in this technology field.

In particular, China aims to expand its international influence in the field of AI through cooperation with member states of the major emerging economies (BRICS) and promoting the “One Belt, One Road” Initiative – an important foreign policy strategy to strengthen its global position by funding infrastructure projects, trade and investment around the world.

Investing in talent and education

Talent is the core factor and important resource for the development of AI, and China has emphasized its importance in its strategy to expand its global influence in AI. However, this becomes more urgent as China is facing an increasing “brain drain”, with many scientists and technology experts leaving the country due to the restrictions of its undemocratic political and social environment.

The NGAIDP details how China plans to address strategic weaknesses in its AI plans. By prioritizing “high-end talent development,” China aims to strengthen its talent pool by upgrading its AI education system and attracting “world-class experts and promising young talent.”

To achieve this goal, China aims to establish specialized training centers, collaborate on research with the world’s leading AI institutes, and leverage knowledge and expertise from leading global AI experts. At the same time, it encourages international academic exchanges, technical cooperation, and leverages talent attraction programs such as the “Thousand Talents” plan to attract and develop world-class human resources.

The Action Plan aims that "by 2030, colleges and universities will become the core force in building world-leading AI innovation centers. These institutions will play a pioneering role in cultivating a new generation of AI human resources, ensuring that China has a solid scientific and technological foundation and the necessary talent pool to rise to the top of the innovation-oriented countries."

Accordingly, higher education institutions are encouraged to adjust their curricula to respond to cutting-edge developments in global science and technology, open more AI-related majors to meet industry needs at national and regional levels, cross-integrate professional education in AI with other majors, and create world-class teaching materials.

Shaping global AI standards and governance

China is no longer content to play a passive role in following AI guidelines and rules set by Western countries. Instead, it is setting a more ambitious agenda, actively participating in and even leading the process of developing international standards in the field of AI.

In addition, China has emphasized in the NGAIDP its intention to play a more active role in global AI governance. China has focused on studying major issues of common concern to the international community, such as concerns about uncontrolled robots and ensuring safety in AI surveillance. At the same time, it hopes to strengthen cooperation with other countries to jointly build international legal, regulatory and normative frameworks on AI, in order to “cooperate in responding to global challenges.”

In addition, China also hopes to support domestic AI enterprises to participate in or even lead the development of international technical standards, and promote its AI products and services in the global market. In addition, the Action Plan also emphasizes the important role of the education system in shaping and influencing international standards and regulations on AI.

By encouraging its scholars to take up key positions in international academic institutions and supporting their active participation in the development of global AI regulations, China believes it can influence many areas of international AI through its own initiatives and standards.

Finally, China’s Internet+ Plan demonstrates its commitment to supporting government agencies, research institutes, standardization organizations, industry associations, and enterprises to actively participate in the development of international AI standards. China looks forward to working closely with the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and other partners to establish standards exchange and cooperation mechanisms to promote coordinated and efficient development in the global AI field.

In short, Beijing has made no secret of its grand ambitions to push its national AI standards globally. China has made it clear: “We will promote the export of China’s AI standards and continuously increase our international influence.”

This is evident in China’s strategy, as it is determined not only to participate in the process of building international AI standards but also to lead and exert strong influence to reshape global rules and norms. With drastic actions and systematic planning, China is making every effort to control and establish a strong position in deciding the future of AI technology in the world.