I often post news stories that harp on the Chinese for their pervasive cyber-espionage; it's hard not to.  Thus, in the spirit of fairness, I'll present the Chinese view.

Tang Lan wrote for China Daily on the need for global cooperation on the internet.  In doing so, Lan criticizes "baseless accusations" of cyber-espionage that only "create a lose-lose situation."  Lan cites two basic facts that those who accuse China of cyber-espionage ignore.  

First, Lan believes that China has weak network security. In fact, Lan calls China's networks "non-defensive" and says that China lags behind the West with regard to critical infrastructure protection and defending information networks.  Interestingly, Lan claims that Chinese networks are controlled by American IT giants through their "grip on chips, routers, servers, control systems, and databases." 

That second basic fact that we all seem to ignore (but are reminded of every time there is a new report of Chinese cyber-espionage) is that China is a victim of hacking.  As such, Chinese efforts to crack down on hackers through law enforcement, regulations, and international coordination mechanisms makes China "a responsible country in cyberspace." 

Lan concludes by expressing regret that the US paints China as an online threat; American politicians (in pointing the finger at China) are just putting "ideology before the national interests of both countries."  Indeed, the US should cease such rhetoric, turn to reason, and join hands to make the internet a safer place. 

You can find the China Daily source article here.

***

Well, I'm convinced.  I've seen the errors of my ways. 

I often post news stories that harp on the Chinese for their pervasive cyber-espionage; it's hard not to.  Thus, in the spirit of fairness, I'll present the Chinese view.

Tang Lan wrote for China Daily on the need for global cooperation on the internet.  In doing so, Lan criticizes "baseless accusations" of cyber-espionage that only "create a lose-lose situation."  Lan cites two basic facts that those who accuse China of cyber-espionage ignore.  

First, Lan believes that China has weak network security. In fact, Lan calls China's networks "non-defensive" and says that China lags behind the West with regard to critical infrastructure protection and defending information networks.  Interestingly, Lan claims that Chinese networks are controlled by American IT giants through their "grip on chips, routers, servers, control systems, and databases." 

That second basic fact that we all seem to ignore (but are reminded of every time there is a new report of Chinese cyber-espionage) is that China is a victim of hacking.  As such, Chinese efforts to crack down on hackers through law enforcement, regulations, and international coordination mechanisms makes China "a responsible country in cyberspace." 

Lan concludes by expressing regret that the US paints China as an online threat; American politicians (in pointing the finger at China) are just putting "ideology before the national interests of both countries."  Indeed, the US should cease such rhetoric, turn to reason, and join hands to make the internet a safer place. 

You can find the China Daily source article here.

***

Well, I'm convinced.  I've seen the errors of my ways. 

I often post news stories that harp on the Chinese for their pervasive cyber-espionage; it's hard not to.  Thus, in the spirit of fairness, I'll present the Chinese view.

Tang Lan wrote for China Daily on the need for global cooperation on the internet.  In doing so, Lan criticizes "baseless accusations" of cyber-espionage that only "create a lose-lose situation."  Lan cites two basic facts that those who accuse China of cyber-espionage ignore.  

First, Lan believes that China has weak network security. In fact, Lan calls China's networks "non-defensive" and says that China lags behind the West with regard to critical infrastructure protection and defending information networks.  Interestingly, Lan claims that Chinese networks are controlled by American IT giants through their "grip on chips, routers, servers, control systems, and databases." 

That second basic fact that we all seem to ignore (but are reminded of every time there is a new report of Chinese cyber-espionage) is that China is a victim of hacking.  As such, Chinese efforts to crack down on hackers through law enforcement, regulations, and international coordination mechanisms makes China "a responsible country in cyberspace." 

Lan concludes by expressing regret that the US paints China as an online threat; American politicians (in pointing the finger at China) are just putting "ideology before the national interests of both countries."  Indeed, the US should cease such rhetoric, turn to reason, and join hands to make the internet a safer place. 

You can find the China Daily source article here.

***

Well, I'm convinced.  I've seen the errors of my ways.