China and US Compete for Global AI Partnerships

China and the United States are expanding competing international artificial intelligence networks as governments seek access to technology, computing capacity, and secure supply chains. According to Tech Insider, China's World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO) began operating in July 2026 with its headquarters in Shanghai and 29 countries signing its founding agreement, while the US-led Pax Silica initiative has attracted roughly two dozen partners and allies. The competition has intensified as Washington considers urging partners to choose between US-led and China-led AI initiatives.

Reuters reported that the US was preparing to deliver such a warning, but available coverage has not established that Washington has formally required every partner to join only one network. The two initiatives differ in structure and purpose. WAICO is an intergovernmental organization focused on AI cooperation and shared services, while Pax Silica emphasizes semiconductor supplies, computing capacity, and other critical technology supply chains.

Tech Insider's account identifies Kazakhstan as a member of both initiatives, challenging the idea that participation necessarily requires an exclusive commitment. The report also identifies countries that have joined one network while maintaining different approaches to technology investment.

According to the report, Singapore and the Philippines participate in Pax Silica. Indonesia, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar are identified as founding members of WAICO. Kazakhstan's participation in both networks illustrates how governments can maintain relationships with competing technology partners. The Diplomat examined the possibility of Central Asian countries being pressured to choose sides in a September article, as the region balances relationships with Moscow, Beijing, and Washington.

The US position was captured in a statement quoted by Reuters coverage of the diplomatic dispute. "You can’t have it both ways," a US official said, according to Reuters.

The statement reflects pressure on countries maintaining ties with both initiatives, but the available reporting does not establish that a final US policy prohibiting dual membership has taken effect. A separate report attributed a similar warning to Washington without clearly identifying the speaker, leaving its precise attribution unconfirmed. Countries are also making technology investments that cross political divisions.

Tech Insider reported that Brazil announced approximately $444 million in AI investment in August 2026, with spending divided between Chinese and US technologies. Saudi Arabia presents another example of a mixed technology approach. According to the report, its Humain-m3 Arabic language model was built on a Chinese open-source system.

These cases show that international AI cooperation involves more than formal membership. Countries may participate in different initiatives or combine technologies from competing ecosystems, while Washington's reported position raises questions about how long such arrangements will remain acceptable to both sides.

The Center for Strategic and International Studies has examined the competition beyond a simple US-China division, particularly in relation to countries in the Global South. The country-level examples cited by Tech Insider illustrate the difficulty of treating the emerging AI landscape as two completely separate blocs.