From 2024 to 2025, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue co-hosted a series of four dialogues between Chinese and European experts on the potential risks arising from the development of artificial intelligence technologies and their impact on international security. The dialogues sustained in-depth discussions and academic exchanges with a wide range of experts and scholars, including representatives from think tanks, international organizations, technology companies, and academic institutions.

In May 2026, during their meeting in Beijing, the heads of state of China and the United States held constructive exchanges on artificial intelligence and agreed to launch an intergovernmental dialogue on AI. As two major AI powers, China and the United States should work together to advance the development and governance of artificial intelligence, so that AI can better serve the progress of human civilization and the shared well-being of the international community. Since October 2019, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University and the Brookings Institution have jointly held the China-U.S. Track 2 Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and International Security, conducting a total of 14 rounds of discussions on issues related to artificial intelligence.

Established on November 7, 2018, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) of Tsinghua University is a think tank in the field of international security and strategy. CISS has two objectives: one is to follow the changes in global dynamics, offering policy suggestions for decision-making through researches on topics of international order, international relations...

The world is accelerating—that much is clear at the close of 2025.Over the past year, we have witnessed an acceleration in nearly all major shifts in international relations.

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are currently being widely applied in humanitarian action, offering significant potential to improve efficiency. However, they also bring potential security risks and challenges. Against this backdrop, the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University, in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), held the Symposium on the Responsible Use of Technology in Humanitarian Action in Beijing from December 4 to 5, 2025.

Based on these exchanges, this report focuses on exploring the possible pathways through which non-state actors may misuse AI, the associated risks, and the potential implications for international security. It also analyzes how these risks can be mitigated at both the national level and through international cooperation. The report aims to provide a reference for understanding this complex issue and to contribute constructive insights to ongoing policy discussions.

In Chinese literature, there is no established defi nition of “loss of control” in the context of artifi cial intelligence (AI). Generally, the notion of “loss of control” is understood as the opposite of control. In other words, once control is defi ned, any situation in which such a threshold is not reached constitutes a loss of control.

This Chinese Public Opinion on International Security in 2025 report is the third annual public opinion survey released by the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) at Tsinghua University over the past three years. Through this research and survey, we aim to continuously present to the world an “unfiltered” view of the latest perceptions and perspectives of Chinese respondents on international security issues.

On February 13-14, 2025, CISS of Tsinghua University and the Brookings Institution held the 12th round of the“China-U.S. Track 2 Dialogue on Artifi cial Intelligence and International Security” in Munich. During the Glossary Session, both sides proposed 20 AI risk-related terms for exchange, and then provided their respective definitions for nine of these terms to enhance mutual understanding of the potential security risks posed by artifi cial intelligence.

Donald Trump’s re-election at the end of 2024 reaffirmed the fundamental shift in the international order. Against this backdrop, the impacts of key factors such as the new U.S. administration’s bold shifts in domestic and foreign policy, the persistent slowdown in the global economy, and the potential escalation of geopolitical conflicts could combine to bring China to a critical turning point, where its external security environment undergoes signifcant change.

In 2023, the Center for International Security and Strategy, Tsinghua University (CISS) conductedthe inaugural “Chinese Outlook on International Security” survey study. Through the investigation,we found some important takeaways. For example, we found that Chinese people are generallyoptimistic about international security, and that they are highly supportive of globalization andopening up to the world. More importantly, we discovered that through the survey, we may be able toprovide more information about China to the rest of the world, presenting a “filter-free” picture ofChina.

The China-U.S. Track II Dialogue on Artificial Intelligence and International Security Project，initiated in October 2019 by the Center for International Security and Strategy at Tsinghua University（CISS）and the Brookings Institution focuses on emerging issues in AI security governance. As of February 2024, the Project has conducted nine rounds of dialogues, yielding significant consensus and progress: