Biden, Xi agree, 'humans not AI' should control nuclear weapons
United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed on the necessity of human oversight in nuclear weapon decisions. The agreement was announced in a White House statement on Saturday. "The two leaders affirmed the need to maintain human control over the decision to use nuclear weapons," read the statement.
US, China advocate for responsible military AI development
Along with the nuclear control pact, both leaders also stressed on the need for careful and responsible development of artificial intelligence (AI) in military applications. The Chinese foreign ministry is yet to comment on the agreement. This is a rare moment of consensus between the US and China on contentious issues like nuclear arms and AI technology.
Future implications of US-China agreement remain uncertain
The future implications of this agreement for further discussions or concrete measures remain unclear. The US has been urging China to join nuclear arms talks, but progress has been slow. While talks resumed briefly in November, they have since stalled, frustrating US officials over China's lack of engagement. Formal negotiations on nuclear arms control are unlikely anytime soon.
China's expanding nuclear capabilities cause concern
The US Department of Defense estimates that China currently has some 500 operational nuclear warheads, which could exceed 1,000 by 2030. The US and Russia each have some 1,770 and 1,710 operational warheads, respectively. China's nuclear capabilities are reportedly growing with advancements such as next-generation ballistic missile submarines and hypersonic glide vehicle warheads.
China maintains 'no 1st use' policy despite nuclear advancements
Despite its growing nuclear capabilities, China sticks to a "no first use" policy and characterizes its nuclear strategy as minimal and defensive. Chinese officials have also dismissed Western estimates of their arsenal as exaggerated during informal exchanges with US experts. Efforts to tackle military AI use have been more recent, with China and the US holding their first formal bilateral talks on AI in Geneva in May.
