Chinese officials on Thursday laid out an argument for China to play a leading role in global internet governance as they solicited international support for a new framework based on regulation and order rather than Western values of unfettered access and openness.
Speaking in Beijing, foreign ministry and cyberspace affairs officials unveiled China’s first cyber policy paper while stating that China would beef up its cyberwarfare capacities to defend against foreign threats.
« Cyberattacks, cyber espionage, surveillance have become major issues confronting all countries, » said the coordinator for the foreign ministry’s cyber affairs division, Long Zhou.
China has long defended its right to impose own standards in cyber fields such as censorship, data privacy and business regulation in the name of national security. The new policy paper effectively codified the Communist Party leadership’s claim that countries should wield sovereign authority over all cyber-related matters within their territory.
Describing the internet as rife with subversive thought, religious extremism, pornography, fake news and financial scams, Long said China « stands ready to work together with Russia and BRICS partners, » as well as other countries on new governance measures.
BRICS is an organization of large emerging economies grouping Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. China is hosting its annual summit this year as part of efforts to elevate the group’s international status.
