By Graham Webster
Read those leaks carefully.
After years of fits and starts, official conversations on cybersecurity between U.S. and Chinese representatives have sputtered to life in recent months. In September, after President Xi Jinping visited President Barack Obama Washington, both governments released identical language forswearing “cyber-enabled theft” for commercial purposes. The language was full of wiggle room, but the public joint understanding was a breakthrough—one quickly amplified when G20 leaders included identical language in their November communiqué.
The media attention surrounding a bilateral meeting on cyber crime early this month, however, revealed a contest of statements and leaks that show the complex issues of cyberspace are only beginning to be addressed. In fact, a close analysis of recent news stories, official releases, and anonymous statements to media reveals a morass of competing narratives and versions of reality. At the root of these competing views is the question of whether the U.S. government has started to get what it wants from Chinese counterparts.
One way or another, recent developments have led key U.S. figures to declare a partial victory. Evan Medeiros, a former top White House official on Asian affairs, told the Post,“the big picture is that from 2014 on, the administration pursued a much more direct and coercive approach with China, and it has produced results over time.”
Read the full story at The Diplomat