House Democrats urge Trump administration to engage China on AI risks

More than two dozen House Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on September 18, pressing the Trump administration to open sustained diplomatic talks with China over the national security risks posed by artificial intelligence. The message is clear: the world’s two largest AI powers have no reliable way to talk to each other about the technology most likely to reshape warfare, surveillance, and critical infrastructure. The letter, spearheaded by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), argues that current communication channels between Washington and Beijing are inadequate for addressing the speed at which AI capabilities are advancing. It calls for structured dialogue that extends well beyond any scheduled diplomatic encounters, including Chinese President Xi Jinping’s visit to the White House. A Democratic push with multiple fronts The Meeks letter is not an isolated move. It sits within a broader Democratic strategy in September 2026 aimed at building US-China cooperation on AI safety, a posture that contrasts sharply with Republican priorities centered on maintaining American technological dominance and restricting China’s access to ad...