Shafaqna English– On Wednesday(19 Aug 2026), China issued a diplomatic appeal calling on all nations to honour the principle of digital sovereignty, emphasizing that every country has the right to govern its own digital infrastructure and data policies free from external interference.
This statement came shortly after media reports emerged suggesting that the United States intends to pressure allied and non-aligned nations into picking a side in the escalating technological contest between Washington and Beijing over dominance in artificial intelligence.
Lin Jian, speaking at the foreign ministry’s daily media briefing, reiterated China’s firm opposition to any attempt to divide the world into rival AI camps, warning that such polarization would hinder global technological progress and create unnecessary geopolitical friction.
He stressed that China’s vision for AI development is rooted in multilateral cooperation and mutual benefit, not in zero-sum competition or bloc-building that forces countries to forfeit their independent decision-making.
Source: Reuters