The Trump administration is taking a proactive approach to strengthen its position in the Asia-Pacific region by promoting artificial intelligence exports and maritime surveillance technology at the ongoing APEC meetings in southern China. This move comes ahead of President Donald Trump's expected visit to China in April, where he is likely to face intense scrutiny over US-China competition on key issues such as technology and economic influence. The administration's efforts aim to promote American private-sector technologies designed to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, which Washington says threatens food security and maritime sovereignty in parts of the Pacific.
The initiatives announced by the Trump administration are part of a broader effort to strengthen US leadership in emerging technologies, with a focus on supporting adoption of American AI technologies by partner economies in the region. The administration has launched a $20 million fund to support this initiative, which is aimed at promoting cooperation and collaboration among APEC member economies. By doing so, the US hopes to counter China's growing technological influence in the region and promote its own interests.
The promotion of American AI technologies by the Trump administration is seen as a key aspect of its strategy to strengthen its position in the Asia-Pacific region. The administration has taken steps to ensure that American AI technologies, standards, and governance models are adopted worldwide, with President Trump signing an executive order last year aimed at achieving this goal.
However, China's response to these efforts has been cautious, with Beijing rejecting Western accusations that its technology exports enable censorship and authoritarian repression. The Chinese Communist Party has promoted its own vision for AI governance, which seeks to enable authoritarian repression and control. This move is seen as a significant challenge to the US's efforts to promote democratic values and human rights in the region.
The issue of illegal fishing is a pressing concern in the Asia-Pacific region, with China's 18,000-strong distant-water fleet posing enforcement challenges for smaller coastal states. The size of this fleet can't be ignored across the Pacific, and its activities are often linked to other transnational crimes such as forced labour, trafficking, and smuggling.
The US is using APEC to promote American private-sector technologies designed to combat illegal fishing, including satellite vessel tracking, artificial intelligence-based analytics, acoustic detection systems, and sensor-equipped ocean buoys. These technologies aim to help governments monitor fishing activity and prevent the spread of transnational crimes in the region.
Ruth Perry, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, has emphasized the need for cooperation among APEC member economies to address the issue of illegal fishing. She noted that reports suggest an unusual level of state coordination among China's actions, which poses significant challenges for smaller coastal states.
The US is also watching with interest China's revised Fisheries Law, which is set to take effect from May. The administration hopes that Beijing will follow through on its promises and implement meaningful reforms to address the issue of illegal fishing in the region.
Overall, the Trump administration's efforts to promote American AI technologies and combat illegal fishing are seen as significant steps towards strengthening US leadership in emerging technologies and promoting democratic values in the Asia-Pacific region.
The US push for tech supremacy in the Asia-Pacific is likely to continue throughout 2023, with significant implications for the region's economic and security dynamics. As the competition between the US and China intensifies, the global community will be watching closely to see how these efforts play out and what impact they have on the region.
The US is seeking to counter China's growing technological influence in the region through its promotion of AI exports and maritime surveillance technology.
