Chinese official: We need to respect national sovereignty over cyberspace

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Cai Mingzhao, minister of the State Council Information Office of China delivers a keynote speech at the 4th World Cyberspace Cooperation Summit at Stanford University on November 5, 2013. (People’s Daily Online/ Li Mu)

San Francisco, Nov. 5 (People’s Daily Online) -- Cai Mingzhao, minister of the State Council Information Office of China suggested that countries need to show respect for national sovereignty over cyberspace when keeping cyber security during his speech at the 4th World Cyberspace Cooperation Summit on November 5 in the United States.

Cai said at the summit that China is ready to expand the cooperation with other countries and relevant international organizations on the basis of equality and mutual benefit.

“To maintain cyber security, we need to show respect for national sovereignty over cyberspace,” he said. The Internet is global, but at the same time it belongs to different countries. Sovereignty states have primary responsibility for maintaining order in cyberspace. It thus follows that respect for national sovereignty over cyberspace is an important prerequisite for maintaining international cyber security. Given the differences in levels of economic development, cultural traditions, laws and regulations, each country naturally has its own concerns regarding cyber security. Cai said, “We should respect each country’s public policies on order and security in cyberspace.

“To maintain cyber security, we need to build a robust legal system,” he said. “Just as in the real world, activities in cyberspace need to be governed by law.” Every country has a duty to contribute to the creation of a legal framework that will maintain cyber security, punish criminal activity, protect basis rights such as the right to privacy, and promote technological innovation and fair competition in the marketplace.

“To maintain cyber security, we need to strengthen international cooperation,” Cai said. In cyberspace, all countries face the same problems and ultimately share the same fate. Cyber security should be built on the basis of coexistence and cooperation, as cooperation is the only way to achieve win-win solutions to shared problems.

He also put forward three proposals regarding the international cooperation. He said, “We should lay down international rules for behavior in cyberspace, explore effective means to tackle urgent problems and create communication channels to facilitate international cooperation.”

The Cyberspace Cooperation Summit was the fourth annual gathering sponsored in part by the EastWest Institute, a global security nonprofit organization. Cyberspace security leaders from more than 40 countries gathered at Stanford University and discuss cyberspace security problems there.

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