China has launched a new international organisation focused on artificial intelligence called the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation (WAICO), with 29 countries signing its founding agreement. The organisation was established in Shanghai, China, which is also its headquarters and was unveiled at the World AI Conference. Pakistan, Russia, Brazil and South Africa were among the countries that signed the agreement, while India did not join.
India’s decision to stay out has raised questions about New Delhi’s position on the emerging global AI order and its approach to China’s growing role in AI governance.
WAICO’s Objective
The organisation says its objective is to encourage AI development that is beneficial, safe and equitable for humanity. Reports from the founding ceremony also said UN Secretary-General António Guterres attended, giving the China-led initiative an important measure of international visibility and legitimacy.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping set the tone for the initiative, saying AI development should not be the ‘solo performance’ of one country but rather a ‘symphony of international cooperation.’ He also criticised the overstretching of national security concerns in AI, a position widely viewed as a reference to US restrictions on the export of advanced semiconductor technology to China.
Who Has Joined WAICO?
The founding membership reflects a strong presence from the Global South. Countries reported to have signed the agreement include Russia, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Laos, Brazil, South Africa, Senegal, Belarus, Serbia, Cuba and Venezuela, among others.
The membership is particularly notable within the BRICS grouping. Brazil, Russia, China and South Africa, all founding BRICS members, have joined the new AI organisation. India is the major exception. While New Delhi stayed away from the founding agreement, Islamabad took a place at the table, adding another layer to the geopolitical significance of India’s decision.
Why Did China Create WAICO?
For Beijing, WAICO is about more than AI safety or international cooperation. The organisation could become an important platform for China to expand its influence over the rules and standards that shape the global digital economy.
Analysts see the initiative as an attempt to promote a model of AI governance that is more appealing to developing countries and emerging economies. It also gives China another avenue to influence international discussions on AI policy, including debates that could eventually reach institutions such as the United Nations.
The timing is also significant. China is facing tighter US restrictions on access to advanced AI chips and computing infrastructure. Washington’s export controls have increasingly limited China’s ability to obtain the most advanced semiconductor technology used to train and operate frontier AI systems.
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Against that backdrop, WAICO gives Beijing an opportunity to build influence in another part of the AI ecosystem: governance. If access to advanced hardware is becoming more restricted, shaping the rules around AI could become an equally important strategic objective.
China’s technology push is also moving alongside its diplomatic efforts. Chinese AI startup Moonshot AI has continued to draw global attention with its Kimi model family and open-weight approach. The broader strategy is clear: expand China’s role in AI not only through technology, but also through the institutions and international frameworks that will influence how that technology is governed.
Why Is India Staying Out?
India’s decision not to join WAICO appears to reflect a broader strategic calculation. New Delhi has been increasingly focused on developing sovereign AI capabilities and reducing dependence on foreign technology platforms. India has one of the world’s largest developer communities and a rapidly expanding AI startup ecosystem, but it does not yet have a frontier AI model that competes directly with the leading US and Chinese systems.
That makes the question of global AI governance particularly important for India. Joining a China-led organisation could give New Delhi a seat at the table, but it could also mean becoming part of a governance framework shaped by Beijing.
India’s strategic concerns are also difficult to separate from its wider relationship with China. Relations between the two countries have remained strained for ages, making New Delhi cautious about participating in new Chinese-led international institutions.
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At the same time, staying outside WAICO carries its own risks. If the organisation grows into an influential platform for AI governance, India could find itself watching global rules develop from the sidelines rather than helping shape them.
India Faces a Difficult AI Governance Choice
The decision highlights a larger dilemma facing India. New Delhi wants to maintain strategic autonomy, build domestic AI capabilities and avoid becoming overly dependent on either the US or China. But global AI governance is evolving quickly, and the most influential countries will be those that have both technological capability and a voice in setting international rules.
India therefore faces a difficult balancing act. Joining WAICO could increase its influence over discussions involving the Global South, but it could also strengthen a China-led international framework. Staying away protects India’s strategic independence, but it risks leaving the country outside an emerging forum that could become important in shaping the future of AI governance.
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For India, the issue is not simply whether to join one organisation. It is about deciding which global institutions it wants to influence, which technology ecosystems it wants to support and how much strategic autonomy it can maintain while still playing a central role in the AI economy.
What Does WAICO Mean for the Global AI Order?
WAICO’s creation points to a broader shift in the global AI landscape. The world is increasingly divided over technology, with the US and its allies tightening controls on advanced chips and AI infrastructure, while China is building its own technology ecosystem and seeking deeper partnerships across the Global South.
The competition is no longer limited to who develops the most powerful AI model or controls the most advanced semiconductor technology. It is also about who gets to define the rules governing AI. WAICO could become one part of that emerging contest. Its success will depend on whether it can attract more countries, establish credible standards and gain enough influence to shape international AI policy.
Indrani Priyadarshini is a journalist and editorial professional specialising in technology, artificial intelligence, smart cities, green energy, and digital transformation. With over four years of experience in tech journalism and digital media, she is known for turning complex industry developments into clear, engaging, and insightful stories. Her expertise spans reporting, editorial strategy, digital publishing workflows, and in-depth coverage of emerging technologies shaping the future.
