A thorough analysis of national AI strategies in Asia has revealed distinct approaches, differing from Western legislation. Ten major Asian economies now have dedicated AI legislation or comprehensive national strategies, treating AI as infrastructure rather than a sector to regulate.

Most national approaches lean promotional, focusing on incentives, sandboxes, and sovereign LLM funding, rather than punitive measures like bans or heavy compliance. Exceptions include Vietnam, with its standalone AI law, and South Korea, with its Framework AI Act and high-risk-system rules.

China has committed ~$98B to AI development, with a focus on open-source industrial policy. Premier Li Qiang has declared China’s innovation as ‘open and open-source,’ with a willingness to share indigenous technologies globally. Japan’s AI Promotion Act, established in May 2025, has no penalties and instead promotes AI development through incentives and the creation of a cabinet-level AI Strategic Headquarters.

Vietnam’s AI Law, effective March 2026, is the most comprehensive standalone AI law, with a three-tier risk classification system, foreign AI provider regulations, and a National AI Development Fund. The law’s sustainability and enforcement bandwidth are uncertain, particularly in the event of a major AI safety incident.

The Asia approach, focusing on incentives, sandboxes, and sovereign capability, may be more or less likely to scale globally compared to EU-style ex-ante rule-making. As AI policy continues to evolve, it remains to be seen which approach will be more effective in promoting AI development while ensuring safety and regulation.

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