I agree this law won’t be effective in its intended purpose, and that China will develop models of their own that are sufficiently competitive (as we’ve already seen). However, I think seeking “peaceful collaboration” between the US (or Europe or many others) and China - either between governments or private firms - is a naive strategy that will simply lead to the US being replaced by a more dangerous superpower that does not respect the values of free and democratic societies.

I also think that to a great extent, we’re already at war. China has not respected intellectual property rights, conducted espionage against both companies and government agencies, repeatedly performed successful cyberattacks, helped Russia in the Ukraine conflict, severed telecommunications cables, and more. They’ve also built up the world’s largest navy, expanded their nuclear arsenal, and are working on projects to undermine the status of the US Dollar. All of this should have been met with a much stronger and forceful reaction, since clearly it does not fit into the notion of “peaceful collaboration”.

China’s unpeaceful actions aren’t limited to the West. China annexed much of its current territory illegally and through force (see Xinjiang and Tibet). When Hong Kong was handed back, it was under a treaty that China now says is not valid. China has been trying to steal territory from neighboring countries repeatedly, for example with Bhutan or India. They’ve also threatened to take over Taiwan many times now, and may do so soon. They’re about to build a dam that will prevent water from reaching Bangladesh and force them to become subjugated. The only peaceful and just outcome is for those territories to be freed from the control of China - which will require help from the West (sanctions, tariffs, blockades, and maybe even direct intervention).

Even within China, the CCP rules with an iron fist and violates virtually all principles of free societies and classically liberal values that we value in the West. I don’t see that changing. And if it doesn’t, how can they be trusted with more economic and military power? That’s why I don’t think we should seek peaceful collaboration with China. We just need smarter strategies than this hasty AI declaration.