In a September 20, 2026 interview on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan, California Representative Ro Khanna, the top Democrat on the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, spoke about growing concerns related to artificial intelligence (AI) and the treatment of American citizens in China. Khanna highlighted that Chinese AI companies have not responded to his letters urging them to cooperate with U.S. firms to slow the rapid development of AI until proper societal safeguards are established. He warned that the unchecked advancement of AI could lead to loss of control or misuse, and noted that Chinese firms have taken no steps to address these risks. Khanna pointed out that Chinese AI firms are replicating American AI models at a large scale, which he argued is a reason to regulate AI development in the U.S. He proposed an international agreement with Chinese President Xi Jinping that would involve global monitoring, data center checks, and tools that are both enforceable and verifiable. Comparing this to arms control treaties, he emphasized the importance of trust and verification in such agreements to ensure compliance and transparency. Khanna also suggested the creation of an AI regulatory agency, likening it to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which oversees the safety of medical products. He argued that AI should be regulated in the same way as nuclear energy, electricity, and aviation, and criticized tech company leaders for claiming that AI regulation is too complex for the federal government to handle. He insisted that the government could appoint independent technical experts to ensure AI safety and oversight. The interview also touched on the case of Min Zin, an American scholar detained by China’s Ministry of State Security for 100 days without legal representation or a court date. His wife, Sylvia Zin, described the charge of endangering national security as shocking, given that Min Zin is a scholar, not a spy. Khanna expressed support for efforts to secure the release of wrongfully detained Americans and noted concerns about Chinese students in the U.S. who may have participated in protests or posted critical content on social media. He also stressed the need to address human rights abuses against the Uyghur minority during meetings with Chinese officials.