The Trump administration is leveraging Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in southern China to promote artificial intelligence exports and maritime surveillance technology, aiming to counter Beijing's technological influence. Casey Mace, the U.S. senior official to APEC, announced a $20 million fund to support American AI adoption across partner economies in the region.

These initiatives arrive ahead of President Trump's expected April visit to China and Beijing's hosting of APEC's annual leaders' summit in Shenzhen in November. The timing underscores intensifying U.S.-China competition over technology and economic influence across the Asia-Pacific. China is working to narrow the technological gap with the U.S. in AI sectors, though its progress is hampered by limited access to advanced chipmaking tools.

The United States is also using APEC to promote private-sector technologies combating illegal fishing, which Washington says threatens food security and maritime sovereignty in the Pacific. Ruth Perry, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, highlighted China's 18-million-strong distant-water fleet as posing significant enforcement challenges for smaller coastal states.