US lawmakers urge China to keep humans in control of nuclear launch decisions

Washington, September 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

Two US lawmakers have urged President Donald Trump to seek a commitment from Chinese President Xi Jinping that humans will remain in control of decisions involving the launch of nuclear weapons, warning against allowing artificial intelligence (AI) to independently trigger a nuclear strike.

Representative Ted Lieu, a California Democrat, and Senator Ed Markey, a Massachusetts Democrat, made the request ahead of Trump’s planned meeting with Xi next week, according to a September 16 statement from Lieu’s office.

In a letter dated September 15, the lawmakers asked Trump to raise the role of AI in nuclear weapons launch systems with Xi and seek China’s commitment to the principle that AI should not weaken nuclear safeguards or eliminate human involvement in decisions on the use of nuclear weapons.

“AI should never launch a nuclear weapon by itself,” the lawmakers said in the letter.

Lieu and Markey cited Section 1638 of the Fiscal Year 2025 National Defence Authorisation Act as the basis for the US position. According to the lawmakers, the provision establishes that the use of AI should not compromise the integrity of nuclear safeguards or the principle of maintaining a “human-in-the-loop” for the employment of nuclear weapons.

Lieu’s office said the two lawmakers had authored the provision to ensure that humans remain responsible for decisions involving the use of nuclear weapons.

The lawmakers urged Trump to seek a similar commitment directly from Xi.

“We urge you to get General Secretary Xi to commit the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the same principle that the United States already follows,” they wrote.

The letter does not allege that China has authorised AI to independently launch nuclear weapons. It also does not provide details about China’s existing nuclear command and launch systems or the extent to which AI may be incorporated into them.

The lawmakers argued that the US policy provides a basis for Trump to seek corresponding assurances from Beijing during his meeting with Xi.

“Since the United States follows this basic principle, so should the PRC,” they said.

Lieu and Markey said direct presidential engagement on the issue could help reduce the risk of AI contributing to a nuclear disaster, whether through an accidental or intentional outcome.

“Your direct engagement on this matter is critical to ensuring AI doesn’t accidentally or intentionally cause a preventable nuclear disaster,” they wrote.