China and Russia have formed a strategic alliance in their cyber warfare efforts against the West, according to a report from Foreign Affairs. The two countries have taken advantage of America’s focus on the war on terror to launch cyber attacks on US government and corporations, stealing scientific and political secrets. China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) hackers have been targeting the US since 2005 and have already compromised a Chinese-based US Central Intelligence Agency network, resulting in the capture of over a dozen US sources.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has made it clear that his goal is to advance China to become a leading military and economic power in the world. To achieve this, he aims to progress China’s technological command to a level where other nations become dependent on them. In alignment with this objective, Russia declared war on Ukraine last year, prompting Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin to form a “no limits” alliance with the ultimate goal of destroying the West’s control in the tech world.
As these cyber attacks continue to escalate, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning has denied US allegations that China is hacking US government systems. On the contrary, Mao stated that China is a victim of cyber attacks and firmly opposes all forms of them. She pointed out that the US has been carrying out indiscriminate and large-scale cyber attacks on countries worldwide, adding that the US Cyber Command listed critical infrastructure of other countries as potential targets for US attacks, which is a cause for concern. Mao called the US accusations against China “groundless” and urged American leaders to prioritize international cooperation.
In response to the growing cyber threat, the White House has announced a Request for Information (RFI) on cyber regulation. The Office of the National Cyber Director (ONCD) issued the RFI, seeking input from the public on how to harmonize the nation’s approach to cyber regulation. The aim is to address inconsistencies and contradictions in cybersecurity regulations and avoid duplications across different regulatory bodies. The ONCD believes that inconsistent regulations not only increase costs for consumers but also pose a risk to national security.
The RFI is open to a range of participants with cybersecurity knowledge, including advocacy groups, academia, and industry associations. The information gathered through this process will be used to establish a potential framework for regulatory reciprocity, streamlining the cyber regulation landscape and improving the country’s overall cybersecurity posture.
The collaboration between China and Russia in cyber warfare presents a serious challenge to the West’s technical advantages. As cyber attacks become more sophisticated and targeted, it is crucial for nations to develop robust cybersecurity strategies and regulations. The US government’s RFI on cyber regulation is a step towards addressing the evolving threat landscape and enhancing national cybersecurity. However, it remains to be seen how effective these regulatory efforts will be in countering the persistent and coordinated cyber aggression from China, Russia, and other actors.