Chinese Minister for Defence calls for prevention of AI risks

Dong devoted part of the intervention to defending more dialogue on the security of new technologies, as well as greater sharing of experience, risk assessment and drafting standards to avoid problems arising from possible militarisation or insufficient governance.

The minister spoke at the opening of the 13th edition of the Xiangshan Forum, which runs until Thursday under the motto “Building consensus on stability and jointly promoting security governance”, at a time of growing concern in the United States with the risks associated with artificial intelligence.

Dong stated that the motto has “important practical meaning” in a context of increasing factors of global instability and uncertainty and defended a “common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable” security vision.

The minister opposed this approach to the “old thought” of “everything or nothing” that, he said, “cannot solve the current international problems”, and argued that security must be achieved through “political dialogue” and “peaceful negotiations”.

In a speech with no direct references to the United States, Dong warned against “hegemonism”, “militarism” and “historical revisionism” and criticized the practices of “forming small groups” and “puttin’ it on fire” in regional conflicts.

Dong also did not specifically refer to Taiwan, a self-governed island whose sovereignty Beijing claims, unlike last year's edition, when it reiterated the importance of “reunification” of the territory with China.

The ruler stated that “the force does not solve the root of contradictions” and that “the pressure of power only deepens divisions”, defending dialogue and consultation as “the only correct way” to resolve disputes.

Dong called for the preservation of the international system with the United Nations at the centre, the defense of “true multilateralism” and the strengthening of the voice of developing countries in security governance.

The minister stated that China maintains an “objective and impartial” position in the face of the outbreaks of international tension and will continue to play a “constructive” role in the peaceful resolution of disputes.

The Xiangshan Forum, which marks this year’s 20th anniversary, brings together military delegations, political leaders and experts from various countries in Beijing, with Taiwan, Ukraine, the Middle East, maritime security and technological competition between China and the United States as its main themes.