Eye on AI as US-China rivalry enters new frontier with Unesco policymaking
- China votes ‘no’ as 132 Unesco states give the green light to have the US rejoin UN cultural and science body, five years after Trump ordered exit
- Blocking China’s efforts to set global AI standards and hobble its AI ability is of strong interest to the US, observer says
Observers said the US would push back on increasing efforts by China to mould Unesco policymaking on emerging technologies, which is deemed important in shaping global regulations.
A US proposal to rejoin the body was adopted on Friday, with “a very large majority” of the 193 member states voting in favour, according to a Unesco statement.
“With this return, Unesco will be in an even stronger position to carry out its mandate,” director general Audrey Azoulay was quoted as saying.
China was among the 10 members that voted against the motion, alongside Russia, North Korea, Belarus, Iran, Eritrea, Indonesia, Nicaragua, Syria and the Palestinian representatives, while 132 voted in favour.
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Vietnam battles plastic pollution crisis at Unesco World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay
The Biden administration submitted a formal application to rejoin Unesco on June 8, some five years after then-president Donald Trump ordered an exit.