HONG KONG. China is launching its own initiative to set global data security standards, countering US efforts to persuade like-minded countries to protect their networks from Chinese technology.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to announce the initiative on Tuesday at a workshop in Beijing on global digital governance, according to sources informed on the matter.
Given the growing data security risks requiring a global solution, “it is imperative now to formulate global rules and regulations that reflect the aspirations and interests of most countries,” said a briefing note on the new initiative presented by Chinese diplomats. foreign colleagues, a copy of which was reviewed in The Wall Street Journal.
Beijing’s initiative arose against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Washington over issues including trade and technological competitionwhich has raised the specter of an increasingly forked Internet.
In recent months, the Trump administration has taken steps to limit he describes as threats to national security from Chinese tech companies such as Huawei Technologies Co. and popular Chinese apps including TikTok from ByteDance Ltd. and
Tencent Holdings Ltd
WeChat. Meanwhile, Chinese officials have accused the United States of applying double standards and attempting to sabotage Chinese enterprises’ expansion efforts.
More on tensions between the US and China
The Chinese initiative came about a month after US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the Clean network program, which will exclude Chinese telecommunications companies, applications, cloud providers and submarine cables from the Internet infrastructure used by the United States and other countries.
As part of its new Global Data Security Initiative, China called on all countries to ensure data security in an “integrated, objective and fact-based manner” and to maintain an open, secure and stable supply chain for information and communications technology and services. , according to the draft reviewed by the magazine.
It would also encourage governments to respect the sovereignty of other countries in the way they process data — in line with Beijing’s vision of “cyber sovereignty,” in which countries exercise complete control over their corners of the Internet.
The draft initiative does not mention the United States or its Clean Web program. However, he proposes commitments that echo China’s responses to US accusations of unfair trade practices in Beijing and security threats posed by Chinese technology.
For example, the Chinese initiative calls on countries to resist “mass surveillance of other states” and calls on technology companies not to install “loopholes” in their products and services to illegally obtain user data, control or manipulate users’ systems and devices. “US officials have accused Huawei of engaging in such activities and called on friendly governments to block the Chinese company’s access to their internal 5G networks. Huawei has denied these allegations.
Chinese diplomats have asked a number of foreign governments to support Beijing’s initiative, sources said. It is not yet clear what interest it is.
According to the State Department, as of early August, more than 30 countries and territories were participating in the US “Clean Network” program. Mr. Pompeo described this as an attempt to protect the privacy and data of American citizens and businesses from hostile groups such as the Chinese Communist Party. He also called on foreign governments and companies to participate in ensuring that their data is protected from the “surveillance state and other malevolent organizations” of the Chinese Communist Party.
Mr. Wang announced Beijing’s plans for its own data protection initiative via videoconference last week with the G20 foreign ministers.
“Data security is an issue of common concern to countries around the world,” Mr. Wang said in a video conference, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry. “We encourage all parties to communicate constructively and coordinate their actions as we work to ensure safe and orderly cross-border data flow.”
Write to Chun Han Wong, [email protected]
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