Editor's note: Ruqiya Anwar, a Ph.D. scholar of Media and Communication Studies from Pakistan, is a researcher and socio-political analyst. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China condemns the cyberattacks carried out by the U.S. against China's Northwestern Polytechnical University and asks to provide justification and immediately to cease any illegal actions.

According to reports, the U.S. launched over 10,000 times cyber attacks against China and stole crucial technical data. In recent years, Chinese corporations have produced reports accusing U.S. agencies of cyberattacks on Chinese assets.

Notably, a Trojan horse malware alleged to have been installed by the National Security Agency of the U.S. has been discovered in hundreds of crucial information systems in China, which may have already leaked.

Significantly, the global economy depends on cyberinfrastructure. Nevertheless, it lacks adequate security, is mismanaged, and is a hotspot for interstate rivalry and potential confrontations. States are concerned about strategic cyber competitiveness in cyberspace, including cyberattacks and espionage. 

Cybersecurity has quickly emerged as a critical national security issue and a focal point of strategic competition between big economies due to the rapid development and popularization of information and network technology. The complexity of cyberspace is its defining feature. Cybersecurity policy encompasses interconnected security, economic, and social issues. The significant economic interdependence between Beijing and Washington and the competition and mistrust on security problems are thus highlighted by reliance on cyberspace.

Controlling and using information resources has become a key strategy for a country to participate in and influence the global arena. Beyond only being a technical concern, cybersecurity has gradually become a political one in global politics. Cyber politization describes the widespread use of cybersecurity as a political tool and the widespread digitization of propaganda tools.

Moreover, cyber politicization emerges from the relationship between networks and political structures. Networks contribute significantly to national security. Networks serve as both a source of political information and a forum for exchanging political viewpoints.

Cyberspace often represents the public sphere, while the Internet cultivates the political public sphere. Its primary functions include political involvement, agenda setting, public opinion monitoring, political communications and political management.

Furthermore, the political public sphere and national political security both greatly benefit from the Internet. Cyberspace has evolved into a sort of de facto political structure. Additionally, the struggle for network dominance has elevated to a major national interest for all, with cyber diplomacy taking center stage. Interstate relations, the growth of cyberspace, and the impact of information and cyber technology on global politics are all intertwined in cyberpolitics.

Specifically, cybersecurity issues have become a growing source of friction in the bilateral relationship between the U.S. and China. Tensions in the China-U.S. relationship in cyberspace are exemplified by military competition, commercial obstacles, and intelligence activity.

However, the China-U.S. security rivalry is much more visible when it comes to cyber-enabled development. Chinese officials claim that China is the biggest victim of cyber-attacks, most of which originate in the U.S. Whereas, the U.S. has consistently argued that "China is carrying out cyber-attacks."

With the rapid growth of cyberspace technology, communication networks will play a growing role in China's national economy and social development. In addition, the government, culture, society, and national security rely on this technology grows daily.

The significance of cyberspace to political and national security will keep growing and the strategic and political significance of cybersecurity will become more apparent. Nonetheless, Beijing's every assertion and action in cyberspace is seen by the U.S. as an attempt to strengthen its "autocratic authority" domestically and to gain advantages by acting as "the revisionist and rule-breaker" in the global arena. Most importantly, recognizing that cybersecurity threats are a concern shared by all nations, the international community bears joint responsibility for ensuring cybersecurity. Beijing upholds the peaceful use of cyberspace and is prepared to collaborate with the international community to advance cooperation and communication, criticize global cyberspace dominance, address all types of hacking attacks in cyberspace, to promote an international multilateral, democratic, and credible Internet system of governance, and work toward a community with a common future in cyberspace.

Network-related new applications, services, and technology are developing. Therefore, it is certain that relevant laws will need to be revised. Beijing believes that the world's nations should value cyberspace, the first artificially created space and vehemently oppose the militarism of the Internet.

China is a proponent of using cyberspace for peaceful purposes. According to China, the current UN Charter and existing laws and rules of armed conflict apply to cyberspace, particularly "no use of force" and peaceful resolution of international conflicts.

Additionally, incorporating pertinent dialogues into ongoing conversations on many levels is more important than ever before. The absence of communications and negotiating channels between the U.S. and China to discuss issues in this domain is a long-standing issue, exacerbated by the topic's sensitivity, differences of view, and assertive measures taken by both governments. The two countries must also work out a way to differentiate and deal with various issues because cyber tensions are multi-dimensional.

The China-U.S. Comprehensive Economic Dialogue can be used as a forum to discuss concerns about business practices concerning cyberspace. The policy statements between the two defense departments can be used to discuss important exercises and changes to defence strategy and to investigate the prospect of establishing guidelines for armed conduct in cyberspace.

Before China-U.S. cyberspace ties deteriorate further, it is essential for Washington to change course immediately. Otherwise, tensions will jeopardize the digital future of the two systems and our entire globe.

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