28th Parliamentary Intelligence -Security Forum – US-China Strategic Competition: Implications for the Indo-Pacific
Hon. Cristian Bacanu discussed China’s advancement in manufacturing electronic goods and defense equipment that rivals that of existing technology magnates such as the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Despite existing limitations in integrated circuit (IC) production capabilities, China recently had groundbreaking strides in creating 5th generation (5G) cellular network by using old microprocessors. However, instead of promoting a more connected, united community of nations, China utilized its achievements in technology to infiltrate the digital space of sovereign countries. It embedded its information and communication technology (ICT) products with harmful elements that can endanger the critical infrastructures of unwary consumer nations.
To address these pressing concerns, the United States and other values-based democracies imposed sanctions to China aiming to curtail the latter’s growing influence in ICT development and access to big data. China’s entry to the telecommunications market initiated the struggle between those who see technology as a tool for cooperation and those who see technology as a tool for conquest. As China attempts to consolidate its dominion over the “digital silk road,” the coalition of democratic nations must remain steadfast in upholding the rules-based, human rights and freedom-adhering social order.
