Along with these changes, Chinese government has been introducing several policies and mechanisms on cyber security this year and ahead. In February, the central cyber security and information-leading group was formally established with President Xi Jinping as the director, and Li Keqiang and Liu Yunshan as deputy directors. This became the highest standard cyber security management mechanism in Chinese history. It is reported that China's first national security strategy document had been in ministerial coordination stage, and expected to be announced in the first half of this year. The report also suggested that the strategy would focus on building China's independent cyber security infrastructure, technology and software systems. The local governments also increase its attention. The Beijing government established the first capital cyber security day in April 29 to educate the public.

These new changes affect not only the Chinese domestic views and response to cyber security, but also bring some new opportunities and challenges in Sino-US cooperation.

On the positive side, China has more clear understanding and awareness about the dangers of cyber attacks. The perception gap between China and the U.S. in this issue is being reduced, which will help both sides to establish a common view about the threat of cyber incidents in their dialogue. Secondly, China’s attitudes toward international cooperation have become more proactive, as China had claimed to enhance China-EU cyber cooperation in April. It is foreseeable that China will also strengthen its cooperation platforms with US, Korea and BRIC countries. In the 2014 Boao Forum for Asia, China opened a special forum on the theme of the "code of conduct in cyberspace and international cooperation", which showed China has become more positive on this issue.

On the negative side, some cyber incidents like the PRISM and other foreign cyber attacks hurt the strategic mutual trust between China and US, which will affect the atmosphere of dialogue and will make it more difficult to resolve differences. First, the PRISM confirms China's persistent worry that the US is using their hegemony and technological advantages on the Internet to enrich its national interests. Since President Obama is reluctant to change its cyber surveillance project, China has to prepare some appropriate defensive measures. Secondly, China has become increasingly dissatisfied with the fact that others control the core Internet technology, as shown in several external security risks. This may make China develop more independent and a different Internet system, which may cause new conflictions between the two countries. Finally, after US decides to increase its cyber soldiers to 6,000 units over the next three years, China’s concern about cyber warfare is also getting serious, which may trigger an unwelcome cyber arms race between the two countries.

Li Zheng is an Assistant Researcher at the Institute of American Studies of China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

This article was first published at chinausfocus.com To see the original version please visit http://www.chinausfocus.com/finance-economy/chinas-growing-cyber-security-concerns/

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