Sovereignty in cyberspace essential for national security
Updated: 2016-04-18 08:03
By Shen Dingli(China Daily)
|
|||||||||
A visitor tries out wearable device at the Light of the Internet Expo in Wuzhen, Zhejiang province, Dec 14, 2015. [Photo /chinadaily.com.cn] |
Among the global commons, the High Seas, the atmosphere, Antarctica, outer space and cyberspace, only cyberspace, is an artificial "space".
Although this virtual space is dependent upon real space, it is not bound by real space in terms of territorial boundary. Consequently, although cyberspace has similarities with the other global spaces, it also has differences.
In terms of similarities, both cyberspace and real space store and transport goods. In terms of differences, in real space, the goods stored and transported are tangible items, but in cyberspace, the goods stored and transported are intangible, as they are information and ideas.
A critical question then arises, does sovereignty, which is applicable to real space, similarly apply to cyberspace?
The answer is, largely, in the affirmative, at least for national security purposes.
For at least three national security reasons, sovereignty should apply to cyberspace.
First, for political, diplomatic, security, defense and strategic purposes, which are the traditional national security interests of a state, the state authority has legitimate reasons to keep cyberspace within its traditional sovereign control.
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |