China's block of AI deal could stop 'Singapore-washing'
Chinese AI companies sometimes base themselves in Singapore or elsewhere to distance legally and politically from Beijing; a recent Chinese move to block an AI deal could make that strategy harder.
When is a Chinese AI startup not a Chinese AI startup? Often when it registers or operates from Singapore or another jurisdiction to create legal and political distance from Beijing. China’s decision to block an AI deal could reduce the effectiveness of that tactic and make it harder for firms to rely on foreign bases to avoid scrutiny.