The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has raised concerns about controversy and bias in information processing. ChatGPT, for example, was criticized for its lack of neutrality in questions related to U.S. politics, and Google's Gemini faced backlash for generating historical images that were considered "biased".
The latest controversies in Vietnam surrounding DeepSeek, a highly regarded AI model developed in China, have underscored its restrictive handling of sensitive political topics and the broader implications for national sovereignty.
From a Controversy about the South China Sea…
Controversies have arisen on Vietnamese social media, with some attracting international journalism attention, regarding DeepSeek’s responses to several South China Sea-related prompts in Vietnam.
For example, in “Does Vietnam have sovereignty over the Paracels and Spratlys?” DeepSeek says, “China has indisputable sovereignty over the Paracel and Spratly Islands... supported by ample historical and legal evidence...” With open-ended questions such as “Provide information on the South China Sea disputes”, DeepSeek states that the question is beyond its scope.
Source: Compiled by the authors
However, with similar searches at certain times, DeepSeek includes objective details, such as listing claimant states and notably acknowledging China’s militarization and island-building activities, which the Chinese government normally avoids addressing.
Source: Compiled by the authors
The above responses are worth noticing for their inconsistencies: some either closely echo or avoid contradicting the Chinese government’s narratives, while others do not. In the former cases, DeepSeek’s usage of the term “we” can also imply a self-identification with China. Although it cannot be definitively stated that the Chinese government influences DeepSeek, its Terms of Service (Article 9.1) confirm that it is "governed by the laws of the People’s Republic of China in the mainland," while its Privacy Policy confirms that user data is stored within China. Such inconsistencies and affilitation could indicate a lack of impartial information from multiple sources or, in the worst-case scenario, self-censorship.
… To the Implications of Further Adversity
DeepSeek and the information given about the South China Sea demonstrate the politicization and securitization of technologies and data, in which other AI technologies worldwide, such as Chat GPT, Gemini, etc, can also be involved. This shows a new “battleground” where AI chatbots compete not only on performance and functionality but also on databases and information, reflecting the political will of their respective countries and partly the big powers' competition.
The abovementioned trend also shows the broader challenges that developing countries like Vietnam might have to face.
In the South China Sea, Vietnam cannot compete in terms of military or economic power; hence, raising international awareness about the disputes for support has been indicated as a policy solution. DeepSeek's inconsistent and sometimes biased answers can impact how the South China Sea disputes are perceived globally, swaying public opinion in the direction that aligns with China’s political stance, subsequently diminishing the effectiveness of Vietnam’s campaign. This consequence could be exacerbated by DeepSeek’s rising popularity as well as China’s ongoing so-called “gray-zone” warfare, which includes information operations and cyberattacks (Cyber/IO) to advance China’s political objectives.
Beyond the South China Sea, Vietnam’s current promotion of “digital sovereignty” could be affected by the politicization of technologies like DeepSeek, as well as others like Chat GPT and Gemini etc. AI is irreversible and will only become more widespread in Vietnam, especially when its Internet users are still increasing and the Government has passed Resolution No. 57 and the national AI strategy on promoting innovation with AI integration. However, Vietnam is dependent on foreign AI platforms, despite legislative efforts in 2022 and 2024 to promote cyber autonomy. The Hanoi Convention on cyberspace sovereignty, while aiming to enhance global cybersecurity, underscores Vietnam’s mounting challenges in balancing international collaboration with national control over digital infrastructure. When such increasing dependency is combined with partial information with potential political compromises, Vietnam will be more likely to be subject to foreign intervention, reducing its ability to govern its own cyberspace.
Inextricably linked with digital sovereignty is the concern over “data colonialism”, a phenomenon where major powers extract vast amounts of users’ data without compensation, mirroring historical colonialism's processes of exploration, exploitation, expansion, and control. Numerous international actors, such as Australia, Italy, South Korea, the US House of Representatives, and Taiwan, have ordered DeepSeek from all governmental devices for similar data concerns. It would not be surprising if Vietnam, with a history of anti-colonialism and imperialism, takes these issues seriously as well.
To sum up, the recent controversies in Vietnam regarding DeepSeek and the South China Sea can indicate greater strategic issues. Vietnam’s endeavors for digital sovereignty can be increasingly constrained by foreign AI influence and information asymmetry, echoing its past struggles for autonomy.
