We must work together on reliable cybersecurity.
By J. MICHAEL DANIEL, AMB. ROBERT HOLLEYMAN and ALEX NIEJELOW February 04, 2015
Cyber threats are becoming more diverse, sophisticated and dangerous. Over the past year, we have seen an exponential increase in the number of commercial data breaches and the theft of trade secrets. Malicious actors have proven increasingly willing to disrupt or destroy computers and networks through cyber attacks. And all of this is happening in an environment where we are connecting more and more things to the Internet, from thermostats to power plants.
These trends should be a call to action for both the United States and China, the world’s two largest economies, to work together to improve cybersecurity globally. Like the United States, China has a legitimate interest in improving the cybersecurity of its computers and networks and protecting its citizens and businesses from the threats posed by malicious cyber actors. But aspects of China’s actions, including the direction of their recently announced regulations—which have been billed as a means to promote better cybersecurity—are not the answer. China’s new rules require technology companies doing business with banks to demonstrate that their products are “secure and controllable” by, among other things, making their source code available to the Chinese government, providing the Chinese government with back doors in software and hardware and requiring localization of foreign intellectual property to China. Not only are these regulations inconsistent with international cybersecurity best practices, they are anticompetitive trade barriers.
Requirements that commercial intellectual property and research and development facilities are located in a specific country run counter to the principles of free and open trade that has both supported the global economy and aided China’s rapid economic growth over the past several decades. Our companies should be able to sell their innovative products in China, and innovative Chinese companies want to do business here in the United States. As governments, both the United States and China shouldn’t undermine that engagement—we should encourage and protect it. Such regulations will also limit the inflow of the latest internationally-tested secure technologies into the Chinese market and diminish our collective efforts to improve cybersecurity worldwide.
These regulations also reflect a troubling pattern of behavior by the Chinese government to use cyber threats to justify policies that undermine the open and interconnected nature of the Internet—qualities that have made the Internet such a powerful enabler of global economic and social progress.
That is why, in addition to urging China to reconsider these new regulations, the United States will remain steadfast in our defense of Internet freedom and a multi-stakeholder-driven Internet governance model, as well as continue our support for norms of state behavior in cyberspace that facilitate international trade and commerce. The United States’ commitment to Internet freedom reflects our deep-seated belief that individuals have the same universal human rights online and offline. Those fundamental freedoms, particularly the freedom of expression, have allowed the Internet to evolve into an innovative platform for communication and commerce unlike anything in human history. But some, including China, view the Internet’s openness as a threatening and destabilizing force. Last year, China blocked thousands of U.S. web sites in an attempt to limit Chinese citizens’ access to certain content online, and last month Beijing began to block access to many virtual private network services. Individuals who are free to express themselves and associate with one another for social or business reasons are not threats. Indeed, the United States and many other countries believe that the free flow of information fuels innovation and energizes economic growth in a globalized 21st century economy.
The United States believes that the Internet’s success proves the value and sustainability of a governance model that involves the active and equal participation of all stakeholders—governments, businesses and civil society. The top-down, government-led approach advocated by China and others for managing the future of the Internet is fundamentally flawed. Such an approach would slow the pace of technological innovation and disadvantage entrepreneurs in both the United States and China who rely upon the Internet to run their businesses, communicate with their customers and conduct online commerce.
Finally, we believe that nation-states have responsibilities in cyberspace, just as they do elsewhere, to abide by certain standards of behavior. That is why the United States remains deeply concerned about China’s continuing and indisputable government-sponsored cyber theft from companies and commercial sectors around the world for Chinese companies’ advantage. The United States does not engage in these types of activities. This behavior is adversely affecting the fundamentals of the U.S.-China relationship, harming the ties of our business community, tarnishing Chinese firms’ international image, and at a broader level, undermining the basic foundations of free and fair commerce. That is why China’s government-sponsored cyber theft for commercial gain is not just a U.S.-China issue. It is an issue of concern to countries around the world. It needs to stop.
The United States and China differ on certain fundamental issues related to the Internet and cybersecurity. That much is beyond dispute. We need to address these disagreements frankly and honestly, but the United States does not accept that these issues are insurmountable barriers to our bilateral cooperation on cybersecurity issues. Our Chinese counterparts have told us that the United States and China should work together to build a more open, secure, interoperable and reliable cyberspace. We couldn’t agree more. Both of our countries want to maximize the social and economic power of the Internet. And we both agree that there is value in practical bilateral and international cooperation on these issues.
The United States is ready to work with China to address the cybersecurity challenge. And if we work together, we can make cyberspace more secure. But in doing so we will not undermine the things that have made the digital economy and the Internet what they are today. Entrepreneurs and innovators in both of our countries are depending on the United States and China to work together to make the Internet more safe and secure. We must make progress for them—and for everyone who wants the Internet to continue to be the greatest platform for social and economic development the world has ever seen.
J. Michael Daniel is a special assistant to the president and the cybersecurity coordinator at the National Security Council.
Ambassador Robert Holleyman is the deputy trade representative in the Office of the United States Trade Representative.
Alex Niejelow is the chief of staff to the U.S. intellectual property enforcement coordinator within the Executive Office of the President.
Source: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/02/china-cybersecurity-114875.html#ixzz3QwQG5LOQ
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