Don’t do what Kazakhstan did, says the United States. Don’t join a U.S.-led artificial intelligence coalition while also joining a PRC-led AI coalition.
The purpose of the U.S. Pax Silica initiative, launched last year, is to “secure supply chains for AI models, semiconductors and critical minerals, amid a fierce technology rivalry with Beijing…. About two dozen countries have joined, including Kazakhstan, a key potential source of critical minerals that has also joined China’s coalition” (Reuters, August 15, 2026).
Japan, Australia, and South Korea have also joined Pax Silica.
By pressing countries to choose sides, the U.S. hopes to starve China of resources in a race to make the most sophisticated AI, which could be used for military or economic dominance.
In July, Chinese President Xi Jinping launched a rival “World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization”, promoting his country’s open-weight [semi-public] technology as a challenge to U.S. influence over the fast-moving sector.
Reuters reviewed an “internal draft” of a letter to prospective partners that presumably had not been sent out yet at the time of review.
The draft letter, prepared by the State Department, is addressed to the 35 signatories of a U.S. “AI Opportunity Statement” signed in June, which includes members of the non-binding Pax Silica framework and other countries that have expressed a desire to align cooperation on AI with Washington….
“To be part of everything is to be part of nothing. Signature of the Pax Silica Declaration is not merely a membership subscription, but a commitment,” the letter says, urging countries to “choose deliberately” on AI.
“It cannot be held alongside membership in duplicative initiatives whose expectations conflict with our own,” the letter said, without specifically mentioning China.
I think it’s okay to say “China.” I also see other possible improvements. Is it too late for edits? My rates are reasonable.
“Reuters could not determine when the U.S. intends to send the letter or whether it might be amended before sending. The draft was undated.” Also, the State Department won’t comment on “purportedly leaked internal documents.”
