Compromise is first step to end cyber threats

President Xi Jinping meets with his US counterpart Barack Obama on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague on March 24, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Caleb Johnson

There are an estimated 4.9 billion internet connected devices in use today, according to Gartner Inc., a US-based research firm. That number is set to explode to over 25 billion by 2020. The world is connected like never before, and as a result, cyber security is an issue that affects world politics, commerce, and each of our personal lives.

President Xi’s visit to the US is another step in the journey toward improved bilateral relations, but cybersecurity stands in the way. Both the US and China have blamed each other for security breaches caused in both corporate and government networks. For example, American tech giant Apple, and the US government’s Office of Personnel Management have both experienced large security breaches.

There is little doubt that the United States government is conducting attacks on China. The question now is what each nation will do in response to these attacks. These attacks are not simply a minor nuisance, but a real threat to each nation’s productivity.

I feel that the best way to promote the cause of world peace is for both nations to come to an agreement about cybersecurity. It is only natural for nations to want to protect their people and interests against those of other nations, and China has every right to protect herself against US aggressions. However, China will never reach a stable and productive peace with the United States unless both sides are willing to make compromises.

We as nations must be open and transparent in our dealings with each other, and realize that cyber-attacks do real damage to both sides. I believe that with proper discussion, and patience on both sides, we can come to a mutually beneficial agreement about good boundaries for cyber-spying, and as State Councilor Yang Jiechi stated, “…work together to work out the rules for cyber security in the spirit of equality, mutual benefit, and mutual respect.”

Caleb Johnson is a student currently working toward a degree in Computer Forensics. Although he now lives in the United States, he spent five years living in China, and is always ready to return for a visit.