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 (bruegel.org/analysis/chinas-artificial-intelli…)', Analysis 24/2026, Bruegel

• García-Herrero, A. (2026) 'Tough choices ahead as the US pushes a global artificial-intelligence divide (bruegel.org/first-glance/tough-choices-ahead-u…)', First Glance, Bruegel

• García-Herrero, A. (2026) 'China Treats AI as Comprehensive Strategy and That Makes a Big Difference (english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=5007)', Op-ed, CommonWealth Magazine

• Loke, K. (2026) 'China’s AI Safety Catch-Up Is Hiding in Plain Sight (thewirechina.com/2026/09/29/chinas-ai-safety-c…)', Opinion, The Wire China

• Loke, K. and S. Casper (2026) 'The AI Issue America and China Can Cooperate On Now (thewirechina.com/2026/06/14/the-ai-issue-ameri…)', Opinion, The Wire China

• Héigeartaigh, S. and K. Loke (2026) 'China isn’t racing to artificial general intelligence — but U.S. companies are (thewirechina.com/2025/09/14/china-isnt-racing-…)', Opinion, The Wire China

• Cunningham, R. and K. Loke (2026) 'Why America’s AI Dream Is Failing to Launch (theinformation.com/articles/americas-ai-dream-…)', 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 (oxfordmartin.ox.ac.uk/publications/promising-t…)', 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. Sign up now (bruegel.secure.force.com/events/UpdateAcc?sf=1…) to receive it in your mailbox!