China Launches WAICO, a 29-Nation AI Governance Body Headquartered in Shanghai

China formally established the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organisation on July 16, 2026 — an inter-governmental body headquartered in Shanghai with 29 founding members including Brazil, Indonesia, Russia, and South Africa. UN Secretary-General Guterres attended the launch. The body creates a competing pole to US-aligned AI governance frameworks, with Global South membership at its core.