cd /news/ai-policy/when-discussing-ai-policy-start-with… · home topics ai-policy article
[ARTICLE · art-131063] src=marginalrevolution.com ↗ pub= topic=ai-policy verified=true sentiment=↓ negative

When discussing AI policy, start with China

Economist and blogger Tyler Cowen argues that any proposal for AI regulation must begin with China, citing China's rejection of U.S. proposals for missile-launch notifications, a nuclear crisis hotline, and limits on military use of outer space during the 2023 U.S.-China nuclear talks, as well as China's break-off of meaningful arms control talks. Cowen writes that readers should be "very suspicious indeed" of AI regulation proposals that do not address China issues in a forthright and specific manner, and points to an Ezra Klein podcast discussion with Matt Sheehan in The New York Times.

by read1 min views2 publishedSep 16, 2026
When discussing AI policy, start with China
Image: Marginal Revolution

Whatever your ideas for regulating AI, I say start with China. Do not put China as an afterthought at the end of your proposal, mentioned in a vague wish that something good ought to happen and that maybe the future of humanity can be secured.

During the 2023 U.S.-China nuclear talks, America proposed missile-launch notifications, a nuclear crisis hotline, and processes to limit the use of outer space for military conflict. China declined all of those. Blame the U.S. if you wish (do we always keep our word?), but that is what happened.

China also broke off meaningful arms control talks.  You may think it is their right to play catch-up, and to be cynical of our motives, but that is what happened.

How well did China exchange timely information about Covid, and cooperate with stopping its initial spread?

Get the picture?

If you start with China in your discussion, you will end up with sensible proposals before getting too caught up in your moods of the day. If you are reading proposals or for that matter tweets for AI regulation, and the writer does not deal with these China issues in a forthright and very specific manner, you should be very suspicious indeed.

Here is [Ezra and Matt Sheehan, discussing related issues](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-matt-sheehan.html) (NYT).
── more in #ai-policy 4 stories · sorted by recency
── more on @china 3 stories trending now
sponsored brought to you by zahid.host 4,200+ EU-deployed projects
reading about agents? ship yours in a single git push.

Run your AI side-project on zahid.host

EU-based hosting, git-push deploys, automatic HTTPS, no cold starts. Free tier with a custom domain — perfect for shipping the agent you just read about.

$git push zahid main
Live at https://your-agent.zahid.host
Get free account → Pricing
from €0/mo · no card required
LIVE [news/when-discussing-ai-p…] indexed:0 read:1min 2026-09-16 ·