China is using its Luban vocational workshops and state-backed training programs to expand global influence through technology and AI, with schools like the Tianjin Light Industry Vocational and Technical College showcasing Huawei-powered automation systems programmed in Chinese. These initiatives, highlighted during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, reflect Beijing’s strategy of pairing tech exports with education to shape international standards and deepen partnerships with countries seeking alternatives to U.S. dominance. Leaders from nations such as Azerbaijan not only pledged support for China’s Taiwan stance but also signed agreements on AI cooperation, underscoring the geopolitical dimension of these efforts. Isaac Stone Fish, CEO of Strategy Risks, noted that the Luban program is a modern version of China’s historical outreach, such as sending engineers abroad in the 1970s, now updated to focus on AI, digital ecosystems, and long-term global influence.