US and China Experts Advocate for Shared Rules on AI and Nuclear Weapons Control

On September 18, 2026, experts from the Brookings Institution and Fudan University emphasized the need for shared regulations to prevent AI systems from autonomously launching nuclear weapons. Melanie Sisson from Brookings stated, "No AI system should be allowed to launch nuclear weapons on its own or attack nuclear command systems," highlighting the necessity for human oversight. This push for regulation comes ahead of a planned meeting between former President Trump and President Xi on September 24, 2026, following a November 2024 agreement between President Biden and Xi on AI governance. The National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI) had previously called for preserving human control over nuclear weapons in 2021. Tianjiao Jiang of Fudan University noted that establishing a direct communication line between the two nations could help clarify accidental incidents before they escalate, referencing the 2023 spy balloon crisis when China did not respond to US communications. Carla Freeman from Johns Hopkins University pointed out that while the need for binding mechanisms is clear, such frameworks currently do not exist.