US-China AI Race: The Critical Resource Behind the Tech Battle

The global AI race between the United States and China has expanded beyond chips and algorithms to a more fundamental resource, as revealed by US Interior Secretary Douglas Burgum. The competition now spans from Venezuela to the Strait of Hormuz, with the resource being critical for AI infrastructure. In mid-July, the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai saw the absence of US tech leaders, while Chinese President Xi Jinping promoted state-coordinated AI infrastructure and international cooperation. This absence signaled Washington's different strategy, especially after President Donald Trump's visit to Beijing in May with tech industry representatives. The US decision to decline the Shanghai invitation underscores the intensifying East-West rivalry, with the US right wing leading the current administration's approach.