Da Wei: AI has become key area of competition between China and the US
The following is a summary of Da Wei's remarks at the 50th Tsinghua University Forum on China and the World Economy held at Tsinghua University, Beijing, and broadcasted online on January 13, 2026. Da is Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) and Professor of International Relations at Tsinghua University's School of Social Sciences.
On January 13, 2026, the 50th Tsinghua University Forum of China and the World Economy, hosted by Tsinghua University's Academic Center for Chinese Economic Practice and Thinking (ACCEPT) in partnership with the university's School of Social Sciences, was broadcasted online under the theme of "China's Economy in 2026." Director of the Center for International Security and Strategy (CISS) and Professor of International Relations at Tsinghua University's School of Social Sciences, Da Wei, delivered remarks and participated in roundtable discussions at the forum alongside other distinguished guests where he commented on the state of the Chinese economy.
Da Wei observed that the world is currently facing a critical transition period of deglobalization and resurgent nationalism, with springing up of notable incidents such as Venezuela and Greenland being in line with this trend. The foreign policy strategy of the United States in 2026 will prioritize the Western Hemisphere and previous hot spots, with a high probability that attention will continue to be placed on existing areas of contention rather than on actively stirring up new troubles. The core of US President Donald Trump's maneuverings is to focus on the country’s own domestic strengths, rather than on maintaining the US-led international order, which has frequently involved disregarding traditional constraints and presenting a strong ego drive, with the Venezuelan incident likely to have significantly boosted the American president’s confidence. Da stressed that there are now a large number of “unknown unknowns” in the world, such that black swan events are becoming increasingly difficult to predict. In addition to geopolitics, there are also potential hidden risks that may arise from technological developments. He expressed that it is difficult for experts to accurately predict the specific direction of international events, with the capacity instead of only grasping the overall trend. If economic development is to be the main priority, then the biggest opportunity in 2026 is that Sino-American relations are anticipated to stabilize. With the aid of summitry and negotiations among their national leaders, China and US economic relations may develop in the direction of a trade and investment rebalancing. AI has become a key area of competition between the two countries, with Da further mentioning that this competitive approach has since become a point of consensus for both sides.
