US-China Competition Intensifies in AI, Trade, and Technology at APEC Talks

The ongoing competitive relationship between the United States and China spans global governance, technology, and economic cooperation, highlighted by the recent meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping at the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting. The US and China are engaged in a fierce race for leadership in artificial intelligence (AI), with both investing heavily in technology and data capabilities to secure strategic advantages, while Ukraine also seeks to develop its own AI capabilities amid geopolitical tensions. Critics within the US Congress urge President Trump to increase government investment in research and innovation to counter China's rapid progress, emphasizing that underfunding key institutions harms American technological leadership. Meanwhile, experts like Oracle's Rand Waldron frame the competition as an "innovation race" rather than an AI arms race, emphasizing speed and iteration to achieve breakthroughs while acknowledging challenges unique to government adoption of AI. The US-China dialogue also includes critical issues such as the fentanyl crisis, where cooperation is sought to address precursor chemical flows from China to the US. Overall, the relationship remains complex, balancing competition with opportunities for collaboration on global challenges.