China's AI governance playbook

In this episode of The Sound of Economics, Yuyun Zhan and Alicia García-Herrero are joined by Kristy Loke to examine how China governs artificial intelligence and what that means for the global AI race.

Relevant research:

• García-Herrero, A. and T. Storella (2026) 'China’s artificial intelligence goals and strategic choices for Europe', Analysis 24/2026, Bruegel
• García-Herrero, A. (2026) 'Tough choices ahead as the US pushes a global artificial-intelligence divide', First Glance, Bruegel
• García-Herrero, A. (2026) 'China Treats AI as Comprehensive Strategy and That Makes a Big Difference', Op-ed, CommonWealth Magazine
• Loke, K. (2026) 'China’s AI Safety Catch-Up Is Hiding in Plain Sight', Opinion, The Wire China
• Loke, K. and S. Casper (2026) 'The AI Issue America and China Can Cooperate On Now', Opinion, The Wire China
• Héigeartaigh, S. and K. Loke (2026) 'China isn’t racing to artificial general intelligence — but U.S. companies are', Opinion, The Wire China
• Cunningham, R. and K. Loke (2026) 'Why America’s AI Dream Is Failing to Launch', article, The Information
• Siddiqui, S., K. Loke, S. Clare, M. Lu, A. Richardson, L. Ibrahim, C. McGlynn and J. Ding (2025) 'Promising Topics for US–China Dialogues on AI Safety and Governance', Research paper, Oxford

This episode is part of the ZhōngHuá Mundus series of The Sound of Economics.

ZhōngHuá Mundus is a newsletter by Bruegel, bringing you monthly analysis of China in the world, as seen from Europe.

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