On April 7, 2022, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University and the Brookings Institution co-hosted the sixth round of the US-China Dialogue on AI and International Security via video link. Mme. FU Ying and Gen. John ALLEN, the Chinese and US project chairpersons, delivered remarks at the event, followed by an intensive discussion among more than 30 members of the Chinese and US project teams.

In her speech, Mme. Fu encouraged the experts from both sides to further explore the common international terms and confidence building measures (CBMs) on relevant issues based on the two years of analysis and research around the security challenges and international governance concerning AI militarization. Gen. John Allen thanked both teams for their hard work on the Artificial Intelligence and International Security project, and hoped that they would share forward-looking inputs and find practical solutions to their differences, and that the deliverables of the dialogue would provide useful references for decision-making.

Welcome remarks by Mme. Fu Ying

Welcome remarks by Gen. John Allen

The virtual meeting was structured into three sessions. In Session 1, which was moderated by ZHU Qichao, the Chinese project lead and deputy director of the Center for National Defense Technology and Strategic Studies at the National University of Defense Technology, Chinese and US experts compared notes on definitions around lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), with the objective of narrowing gaps in understanding how each side uses key terms. In Session 2, which was moderated by LIU Chong, a member of the Chinese team and executive director of the Institute of International Security Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, the two sides looked at hypothetical vignettes to explore the development of rules for using LAWS and elements of CBMs for risk reduction, concluding that consensus on the former will be the basis for discussion on the latter. The panelists recognized that the use of force must comply with international law, pointing out that the key challenge lies in how parties understand and interpret compliance in the use of force and the resulting accountabilities. In Session 3 moderated by Ryan HASS, the US project lead and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s John L. Thornton China Center, the panel explored the development of standards around testing and evaluation of AI systems before their deployment and use, and offered constructive inputs from technical, legal, ethical, and regulatory perspectives.

Remarks by Chinese project lead Zhu Qichao

Remarks by US project lead Ryan Hass

The AI and International Security project has provided opportunities for Chinese and US experts to exchange views, panelists concurred. Both teams expressed the willingness to continue to promote research and dialogue, address divergences, improve mutual understanding, and advance their cooperation, so that China and the US can give full play to their leading roles in international AI governance. Some experts also emphasized the importance of enhancing political mutual trust between the two countries. It was agreed that the dialogue outcomes shall be made publicly available in due course.

Panelists

Since its inception in 2019, the Artificial Intelligence and International Security project has kept its primary focus on the impact of AI development on international security. Research and dialogues on relevant issues between Chinese and US expert teams have been organized by CISS and the Brookings Institution respectively. The first round of the US-China AI Dialogue on Security was held in Beijing on October 23, 2019, and the second in Munich on February 14, 2020. The third and fourth rounds were held online on October 31, 2020 and April 20, 2021 respectively. In addition, on December 18, 2020, CISS and Brookings experts released the preliminary deliverables of the project at a thematic session titled “AI and International Security: Challenges and Opportunities” during the inaugural Tsinghua University International AI Cooperation and Governance Forum. On October 30, 2021, the fifth round was held virtually. This meeting marks the first round of dialogues in Phase 3 of the project.