The New Great Game: US Pushes Tech and Transparency at APEC to Counter China’s Influence
The global competition between the United States and China is now playing out not just on trade floors and military bases, but in the realm of artificial intelligence and deep-sea fisheries. This geopolitical rivalry took center stage at recent Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in southern China, where Washington rolled out a major initiative to bolster its technological leadership across the region.
At the heart of the American push is a brand new, multimillion-dollar fund aimed at accelerating the adoption of US-made AI technology. The US senior official to APEC, Casey Mace, announced a $20 million fund specifically to help partner economies in the Asia Pacific integrate American AI solutions. This is part of a larger strategy to make sure US standards and governance models for new technology become the global norm.
It is, quite frankly, a values-based pitch. US officials have framed the contest not just as a race for technological superiority, but as a fight over the fundamental rules and values that will govern the future of AI. The US government champions an approach based on transparent standards and market-driven innovation. This stance offers a stark contrast to China’s model, which the State Department has criticized for promoting censorship and serving as a tool for authoritarian repression. For its part, China has firmly rejected these accusations, maintaining that it supports global cooperation on AI governance.
Beyond the world of algorithms and data centers, the US also turned its attention to the sea, using the APEC platform to address the growing crisis of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. This issue, often referred to as IUU fishing, is a significant threat to food security and maritime sovereignty for many Pacific nations.
Washington is heavily promoting a suite of American private-sector technologies designed to help governments keep better track of their vast coastal waters. These tools are a modern mariner’s arsenal, including advanced satellite vessel tracking, acoustic detection systems, and ocean buoys equipped with sensors. Critically, they also include AI-based analytics to process the massive amounts of data collected and identify suspicious activity.
The urgency stems from concerns over the sheer scale of distant-water fishing fleets, particularly China’s, which US officials note can pose significant enforcement challenges for smaller coastal states. The issue goes far beyond just fish; illegal fishing is frequently associated with serious transnational crimes like forced labor and human trafficking. By promoting its private-sector solutions, the US is weaving together economic goals with national security interests, providing practical gear for regional partners while simultaneously pushing back on China’s maritime reach.
This coordinated tech and maritime push comes just months before a major diplomatic event: China will host the APEC annual leaders’ summit in Shenzhen this November. The lead-up to that summit, combined with the US funding announcement and the focus on maritime security, ensures that the Asia Pacific region will remain the central arena for the defining economic and technological competition of our time.