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US to tell partners they must pick sides in AI race with China
Brief published August 16, 2026 ยท Original source published August 15, 2026
Original reporting at channelnewsasia.com.
Automated brief. Verify important details at the original source.
What happened
The US is preparing to send letters to dozens of countries warning they must choose between the US-led AI coalition and China in the ongoing AI competition. A draft letter frames signing the Pax Silica Declaration not as a voluntary membership but as a binding commitment, with countries that decline facing exclusion from the coalition. The declaration itself was reportedly launched the previous year under US leadership.
Why it matters
Forcing an explicit choice could fracture the group of countries that have so far maintained relationships with both the US and China on AI. Builders and companies operating across multiple jurisdictions may face new compliance pressures or market access restrictions depending on which bloc their host governments join.
What to watch
Watch for official dispatch of the letters and any public responses from targeted countries, particularly those that have previously avoided alignment. The number of countries that sign, decline, or stay silent will indicate how much leverage the US coalition actually holds.