Proposal made to limit military use of AI tech

China calls for efforts to safeguard global strategic stability in position paper to UN

China has for the first time put forward a position paper on regulating the military application of artificial intelligence, offering solutions on how to develop and use AI technology in the military field.

Li Song, Chinese ambassador for disarmament affairs, submitted the proposal to the sixth review conference of the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, which opened in Geneva on Monday. The proposal is also the first of its kind under the framework of the convention.

With its wide range of applications in various fields, AI has brought great opportunities as well as unforeseeable security challenges to the world, Li said, adding there are widespread concerns regarding the risks of military applications and even the weaponization of AI.

The position paper focused on important issues such as the research and development, deployment and use of AI for military purposes.

Efforts to regulate military applications of AI to forestall and manage potential risks will help promote mutual trust among countries, safeguard global strategic stability, prevent an arms race and alleviate humanitarian concerns, the document said.

The position paper noted that such efforts would also contribute to building an inclusive and constructive security partnership and striving for the vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind in the AI field.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on Thursday at a news briefing that "the move is aimed at advocating the principle of 'AI for good'", and he called for countries to develop and apply AI technology in military fields in a responsible manner.

He also called on countries to embrace a vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable global security.

Countries should seek consensus on regulating military applications of AI through dialogue and cooperation, and establish an international system of universal participation, he added.

As an active builder of world peace and a staunch supporter of multilateralism, China has in recent years put forward a series of initiatives and contributed its wisdom to multilateral arms control, which has drawn world attention.

China proposed the Global Initiative on Data Security last year, offering a Chinese solution to the formulation of global data governance rules, which received positive feedback from many countries.

In March, China and the League of Arab States jointly released the China-LAS Cooperation Initiative on Data Security, promoting the building of a community with a shared future in cyberspace by including the wisdom and strength of developing countries into global digital governance.

In another development, Wang said the move by the United States to promote division and confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region had failed and had proved unpopular globally, referring to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks during his visit to Indonesia.

The US should respect efforts by China and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea, and refrain from provocations, he said.

He urged Washington to earnestly respect the ASEAN-centered regional cooperation mechanism, rather than draw ideological lines and engage in confrontation.

Washington should promote regional communication and dialogue, rather than sabotage regional solidarity and drive a wedge between countries in the region, he added.