China to drive global network development in next 5 years
China has improved cyber governance in the past five years after implementing laws and regulations to manage cyberspace and building a cleaner and healthier network environment, which have enhanced national cyber security, experts said.
"China's Internet commerce has quickly developed since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012. Thanks to top-level designing and strategic thinking, China is becoming a strong cyber power," Qin An, a cyber security expert at the China Institute for Innovation and Development Strategy, told the Global Times on Monday. [Special coverage]
Qin added that President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to China's Internet development, and discussed how to strengthen China's Internet security and build the nation into a strong cyber power in his speeches.
China established the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs on February 27, 2014. Xi said during its first meeting that "it is designed to lead and coordinate Internet security and informatization work among different sectors, as well as to draft national strategies, development plans and major policies in this field."
Xi said Internet security affects a country's security and development as well as people's lives. He also sought more favorable policies for Internet technology companies to boost innovation.
The number of Net users in China has risen to 731 million through December 2016, with a penetration rate of 53.2 percent, according to the 2017 China Internet Report.
"Cyberspace has become part of people's daily lives and influence their spiritual lives. China's cyber environment has become cleaner and healthy thanks to the crackdown on illegitimate online activities," Qin said, noting that the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs has been regulating the activities of Internet service providers.
At least 25 popular social media accounts were closed in June to uphold socialist core values and clean up cyberspace. And the Beijing Cyberspace Administration has met with websites including Sina Weibo, Jinri Toutiao and Baidu, requiring them to fulfill their duties, create a healthy public opinion environment and reduce news on the lives of celebrities.
In November 2016, the National People's Congress passed China's first Cyber Security Law, allowing regulators to take action against individuals and organizations based overseas who harm China's interests.
In July, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology also announced that all businesses operating in China need to register with authorities, and online businesses are required to get an Internet Content Provider license.
Global involvement
These laws clearly define the rights and responsibilities of all parties involved in Internet activities, requiring everyone in cyberspace to act according to the law, Wang Sixin, deputy dean of the School of Literature and Law at Communication University of China, told the Global Times previously.
China has also intensified its crackdown on online violations. The Ministry of Public Security launched a three-year drive in 2014 to eliminate online pornography and illegal activities together with the Office of the Central Leading Group for Cyberspace Affairs and other departments.
"Aside from maintaining security over the domestic network, China is also involved in global network governance. And there's widespread support for China's proposal to respect each country's cyber security policy," Zuo Xiaodong, vice president of the China Information Security Research Institute, told the Global Times.
China hopes to work closely with countries and international organizations on global security and jointly build universal security, Xi said in Beijing at the opening ceremony of the 86th Interpol General Assembly in September.
At the opening ceremony of the Second World Internet Conference in Wuzhen, East China's Zhejiang Province in 2015, Xi said China was motivated to ensure the Internet not only benefits the Chinese people but also the world.
"Aside from building a more open and orderly domestic network, China will drive global network governance in the next five years, altering the current Internet order dominated by the U.S. with a fairer and more secure global network," Qin said.
