Global AI Governance Divides as China and US Pursue Parallel Paths

Nations across Asia, Africa, and Latin America are breaking into competing camps as two rival visions of artificial intelligence governance emerge. In July 2026, 29 countries signed an agreement establishing the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), a Chinese-led body headquartered in Shanghai and oriented toward the Global South. Simultaneously, the United States and allied democracies have expanded the Pax Silica initiative, which grew from 9 founding members in December 2025 to 24 signatories by June 2026, with a broader "Joint Statement on AI Opportunity" signed by over 30 nations—yet notably absent are the United States, EU members, and G7 countries from WAICO's membership.