From Border Tensions to AI Governance, India and China Eye Role in Shaping Global South’s Tech Future
Why in News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit China at the end of this month to participate in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. This marks his first visit to China since the Galwan Valley clash between Indian and Chinese troops, making it a significant event in terms of geopolitical, economic, and technological cooperation. The summit will be a stage to discuss trade, economy, and most importantly, emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), which is increasingly shaping the future of global governance and development.
Introduction
The world is witnessing a technological revolution where Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming the defining tool of economic and political power. While Western nations such as the United States and the European Union have taken the lead in setting AI standards and policies, emerging economies like India and China are now stepping forward to ensure that their voices are heard, particularly from the perspective of the Global South. Both Prime Minister Modi and President Xi Jinping have repeatedly emphasized the importance of AI in global growth and development. For India, this visit is not only about mending ties with China after strained relations but also about positioning itself as a leading voice in global AI governance.
Key Issues and Background
India and China’s relationship is complex. While both nations have strong economic interdependence, border tensions, particularly the Galwan Valley clash of 2020, created a prolonged strain. However, with growing global interest in AI and digital transformation, both countries are seeking opportunities to cooperate in areas beyond security and territorial disputes.
Prime Minister Modi, in a 2020 AI summit, described AI as a tribute to human intellect and innovation, underlining its role in future growth. Similarly, President Xi has emphasized AI’s role in modernizing China and ensuring global competitiveness. India, with its IT strength, and China, with its massive industrial scale, together can play a defining role in shaping the technological and economic future of the Global South.
At the global level, initiatives like the OECD AI Principles, the EU’s AI Act, and the UN’s AI standards are currently shaping rules. However, India and China argue that many of these frameworks reflect Western priorities and realities, often neglecting the unique challenges faced by developing nations.
Specific Impacts or Effects
- India’s Growing Role in AI Governance: India has demonstrated its intent to shape AI governance by actively participating in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI). The Global AI Summit in July 2024, which brought together 12,000 experts from 50 countries, showcased India’s commitment to inclusivity, safe, and trusted AI development.
- China’s Industrial Scale: China aims to become a global AI leader by 2030, with its AI industry exceeding $140 billion. Beijing is investing heavily to ensure that AI becomes central to its economic future.
- Bridging the Digital Divide: Both India and China advocate for AI rules that reflect developing countries’ realities rather than imposing Western standards. Their goals include promoting open data sharing, building AI capacity in underrepresented regions, and ensuring AI supports sustainable development.
- Sectoral Applications: AI is already being applied in agriculture, healthcare, finance, and manufacturing in India. However, challenges remain due to a shortage of skilled professionals and lack of equitable access. By collaborating with China, India can benefit from technological and infrastructural expertise.
- Global South Representation: Through forums like SCO and GPAI, India and China are increasingly positioning themselves as representatives of the Global South, pushing for governance frameworks that consider the challenges of developing countries.
Challenges and the Way Forward
Despite opportunities, challenges remain in India-China cooperation:
- Geopolitical Tensions: Border disputes and mutual mistrust may hinder deeper collaboration.
- Diverging AI Strategies: While India emphasizes inclusivity and ethical AI, China focuses on industrial expansion and rapid adoption.
- Western Competition: The US and EU continue to dominate in terms of AI research, innovation, and rule-setting, which can overshadow the voices of India and China.
- Infrastructure and Skill Gaps: India faces significant shortages in AI talent, while China’s dominance in AI hardware and infrastructure could create dependency.
The way forward involves building trust through collaborative mechanisms like the Bilateral AI Task Force, encouraging joint research, and ensuring ethical and inclusive AI development. By aligning their AI goals with sustainable development and the needs of the Global South, both countries can shape a new narrative in global technology governance.
Conclusion
AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it is today’s reality shaping economies and governance worldwide. India and China, as two of the most populous nations with vast technological ambitions, have an opportunity to redefine the global AI governance framework. While border tensions remain unresolved, cooperation in AI and digital governance could open a new chapter in their relationship. If India and China can balance competition with collaboration, they can become the torchbearers of the Global South, ensuring that AI is inclusive, ethical, and beneficial for all.
5 Questions and Answers
Q1. Why is Prime Minister Modi’s visit to China significant?
A1. This is Modi’s first visit to China since the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. It marks an attempt to reset relations and focus on trade, economy, and emerging technologies like AI, positioning India as a key voice in global AI governance.
Q2. What role is India playing in global AI governance?
A2. India is actively participating in the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI) and has highlighted AI’s importance in sectors like healthcare, finance, and agriculture. India advocates for inclusive, safe, and ethical AI development, particularly for the Global South.
Q3. How does China’s AI approach differ from India’s?
A3. China focuses on rapid industrial growth, aiming to lead the global AI industry by 2030 with investments worth over $140 billion. India, meanwhile, emphasizes ethical, inclusive, and sustainable AI adoption to bridge gaps in healthcare, education, and governance.
Q4. What challenges exist in India-China AI cooperation?
A4. Major challenges include lingering geopolitical tensions, diverging AI strategies, skill and infrastructure gaps in India, and continued Western dominance in AI innovation and rule-setting.
Q5. How can India and China shape the Global South’s AI future?
A5. By collaborating on AI governance frameworks, building capacity in developing regions, promoting open data sharing, and aligning AI goals with sustainable development, India and China can provide a strong alternative to Western AI standards and ensure Global South representation in global governance.
