China urges respect for digital sovereignty in AI race

BEIJING, Aug 19 (Reuters) - China on Wednesday urged respect for ‌each country's digital sovereignty, after ‌a report the U.S. would ask countries ​to choose sides in the artificial intelligence race with Beijing.

China is opposed to taking sides and ‌forming camps ⁠on AI, its foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said ⁠at a regular briefing.

The U.S. is preparing to tell dozens of ​countries they ​must pick ​sides in the ‌artificial intelligence race with China, warning they will be excluded from a U.S.-led AI coalition if they also sign up for Beijing's ‌competing framework, according ​to a U.S. ​official and ​an internal draft reviewed ‌by Reuters.

"Each country has ​the right ​to choose its partners based on its national conditions and ​development ‌needs," Lin said.

(Reporting by Ethan ​Wang and Liz Lee; Editing ​by Kate Mayberry)