Question 1: US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said recently that the US had “sent clear messages to the PRC about what it would actually mean if they acted to disrupt American critical infrastructure and how we would respond”. What is China’s response?

A: We have told the Biden administration explicitly that China rejects US blame on China concerning specific cases without providing any evidence. We’ve also raised concerns to the US side that China has detected long-lasting, systemic and massive US cyber attacks against China, including cyber espionage, as well as cyber attacks that compromise the security of critical infrastructure in areas such as telecommunication, finance and transportation. We also briefed to the US side of the scope and basis of classification of critical information infrastructure according to China’s legislation, and highlighted our seriousness on protecting security of China’s critical infrastructure. We specifically underscored that the US should first set a good example before asking others to do things.

The key to address relevant issue is that the US should take China’s concerns seriously, and discard the wrong mindset that the loudest voices are the wisest. It will not work for other countries if the US tries to set rules unilaterally from “a position of strength”.

Question 2: Cybersecurity has become a hot-spot issue of China-US relations. How does China think China and the US should handle their existing disagreement? How will China-US cyber relationship evolve in the long run?

A: President Xi Jinping has repeatedly and profoundly pointed out that two big countries like China and the US should not cut off their ties or turn their back on each other, still less slide into conflict or confrontation, that the two countries should respect each other, coexist in peace and pursue win-win cooperation, and China-US relationship should continue moving forward in a stable, sound and sustainable way. China is willing to build a future-oriented China-US cyber relationship in adherence with this spirit.

China and the US do have our differences in cyber arena. However, it is entirely possible for the two sides to discuss any matters of concern in an open and candid manner on the premise of equality and mutual respect while taking facts as basis and common rules as criterion. More importantly, we should think through the following questions from a broader and longer term of view: what kind of China-US cyber relationship we need to establish, what kind of rules we need to apply with when interacting with each other, and how we can work together to find the right way to get along well with each other in cyberspace?

China and the US are the two most influential countries in global cyber arena, and also the two countries that are most dependent on cyberspace. The two sides share similar concerns regarding ensuring cybersecurity, in particular the security of critical infrastructure. Maintaining peace and stability in cyberspace is not only in the common interests of both sides, but also should be our shared goal. China is willing to engage in dialogues with the US to build peaceful, stable and mutually respectful cyber relations, which we firmly believe is the best way to address common concerns of both sides in the long run, in spite of change of administrations of the US.