US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has proposed creating an emergency notification mechanism with China for artificial intelligence incidents that threaten national security, following bilateral negotiations with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in New York on September 20.
The proposal aims to establish a direct communication channel between Washington and Beijing to exchange information rapidly during critical events involving advanced technology. American officials want both nations to define a shared list of dangerous scenarios and establish formal action protocols to manage emerging risks.
Specific scenarios discussed during the meeting included uncontrolled artificial intelligence agents, cyberattacks and the potential misuse of software systems by non-state actors. Following the talks, Bessent stated that both countries had agreed to maintain an official diplomatic dialogue on artificial intelligence security.
Beijing response and export controls
Beijing has not yet reported whether it accepts the American proposal. In an official report, China's state news agency Xinhua described the negotiations in New York as candid and constructive, noting that artificial intelligence was discussed alongside broader economic and trade issues without specifically detailing the emergency notification framework.
United States officials also clarified that the high-level negotiations did not include export controls on artificial intelligence microchips or semiconductor manufacturing equipment. Washington has previously implemented targeted restrictions on advanced chip shipments, but those trade measures were kept separate from the security dialogue.
Managing autonomous threats and future meeting
The proposal arises from growing concerns that a severe malfunction or breach involving autonomous systems could require immediate bilateral communication between the world's two largest economies. Currently, no agreed international protocol exists between Washington and Beijing to address urgent threats linked to critical infrastructure or digital networks.
While the proposed incident channel remains a subject of negotiation rather than an active international mechanism, official discussions are set to continue. Both governments plan to hold their next formal meeting on safety in two months in Shenzhen, a major technology hub in southern China, although the exact date and format have not yet been determined.
