China's UN envoy urges against politicizing AI

On September 23, 2026, the UN Security Council held an open debate on artificial intelligence and international security. Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the UN, said the international community should strengthen unity and cooperation, place equal emphasis on AI development and safety, and steer AI toward benefiting humanity.

He stressed that forming exclusive blocs in science and technology and forcing countries to take sides essentially politicizes and instrumentalizes technological issues, serving individual major powers' attempts to monopolize technological advantages and seek digital hegemony. This not only hinders global technological progress and harms the development rights of all countries, especially smaller nations, but also increases risks of fragmented technical standards and incompatible systems, posing hidden dangers to global security. AI is a common asset for all humanity, he said, and should not become a game for the rich and privileged.

Fu also called on all countries to adopt a cautious and responsible approach to the development and application of AI in the military field, avoid strategic miscalculation and arms races, oppose indiscriminate attacks or deliberate strikes on civilians and civilian infrastructure, and ensure that humans always retain the final decision-making power.