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Global Internet management in the post-American era
Lu Wei, minister of China's State Internet Information Office, delivers a keynote speech at the Conference of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in London on June 23, 2014. [Xinhua photo]
China hopes to build an open Internet worldwide based on sovereign equality. The principle was fleshed out in a keynote speech by Lu Wei, minister of China's State Internet Information Office, in London last month.
Lu delivered his speech at the Conference of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) as the first ministerial-level non-host-country keynote speaker. He expressed his view on the internationalization of ICANN in four principles -- equality and openness, multilateral participation, security and trust and win-win cooperation.
He also proposed seven consensuses which should be reached: One, the Internet should benefit all of mankind. Two, the Internet should bring peace and security to every country in the world. Three, the Internet should serve developing countries more. Four, the Internet should focus on protecting citizens' legal rights. Five, cultivation, honesty and credibility should be upheld on the Internet. Six, the Internet should spread positive energy. Seventh, the Internet should be helpful to the healthy growth of those under the age of 18.
Coincidentally, only about 20 days before the conference, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong also spoke about China's concern over Internet security and concluded his speech in four principles: peace, sovereignty, joint management and benefits for all.
The highly frequent expressions of China's view of the global management of the Internet reflect the fact that the country has matured and improved its concept of cyberspace.
An open cyberspace is considered a general trend for the development of the Internet. However as national strengths, statuses and interests change, there should be rational guidelines for the Internet, which should be drawn up in line with the national interests, technological trends and the direction and the expectance of international communities and citizens of different countries.
In shaping a virtual world that is closely related to the physical world but has remained comparatively independent since its invention in the 1990s, the cyber world, marked by the Internet, has been developing so fast that it can be seen as a second space for human activities.
Undoubtedly, because of historical reasons and the changes among different powers, the Internet has nowadays been branded as the "Americanet" and the nickname has its reasons. But it would be unwise to abandon the Internet or set up a new one only for the sake of the alleged inequality.
Enumerable examples since the 1990s have proved that, despite its advantage as the birthplace of cyber technologies which make things convenient for companies and governments, the U.S. does not monopolize the management of cyberspace and acts unrestrictedly.
Take the IP addresses of geographic domain names for example. They were first set by the U.S. Department of Defense and then were transferred to ICANN and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Now, a more globalized management system is necessary for the future.
The goal of "One World, One Internet" is becoming closer, following complicated wrestling and arguing in the global community.
China, a country with a goal of building a strong Internet, cannot be ruled out of the process. It should participate in the international cyberspace system to draw up relevant rules and regulations.
However, the openness of the Internet should be supported by sovereign equality. Cyberspace should be developed on the same basis of integrity and equality of sovereignty. Parties, especially sovereign states, should have equality in cyberspace, even if their capabilities vary. Equality can prevent countries from using technology as a weapon against others, which can be exemplified by the U.S. Prism controversy, in which Uncle Sam unrestrainedly launched surveillance around the world in line with its self-centered double standards.
In cyberspace, national interests follow the boundaries of sovereign countries. Core interests that determine the survival of a country should never be infringed. Meanwhile, less important interests which remain inside the boundaries of countries in line with the traditional geographic and geopolitical concepts are increasingly shared by multinational companies and non-governmental-organizations (NGOs). There are also peripheral interests, which are in a state of "anarchy," that rely on technologies, strategies and the power of voices that are competing in the world.
Competition for cyberspace management will reach a new pinnacle as the U.S. government announced its intention to transfer the management of ICANN. In viewing the Internet as a shared property for all people, China is facing great challenges as well as historical opportunities in joining the new round of cooperation and competition.
The author is an associate professor of International politics at Fudan University.
This article was published in Chinese and translated by Wu Jin.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Lu Wei, minister of China's State Internet Information Office, delivers a keynote speech at the Conference of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) in London on June 23, 2014. [Xinhua photo]
China hopes to build an open Internet worldwide based on sovereign equality. The principle was fleshed out in a keynote speech by Lu Wei, minister of China's State Internet Information Office, in London last month.
Lu delivered his speech at the Conference of Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) as the first ministerial-level non-host-country keynote speaker. He expressed his view on the internationalization of ICANN in four principles -- equality and openness, multilateral participation, security and trust and win-win cooperation.
He also proposed seven consensuses which should be reached: One, the Internet should benefit all of mankind. Two, the Internet should bring peace and security to every country in the world. Three, the Internet should serve developing countries more. Four, the Internet should focus on protecting citizens' legal rights. Five, cultivation, honesty and credibility should be upheld on the Internet. Six, the Internet should spread positive energy. Seventh, the Internet should be helpful to the healthy growth of those under the age of 18.
Coincidentally, only about 20 days before the conference, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Li Baodong also spoke about China's concern over Internet security and concluded his speech in four principles: peace, sovereignty, joint management and benefits for all.
The highly frequent expressions of China's view of the global management of the Internet reflect the fact that the country has matured and improved its concept of cyberspace.
An open cyberspace is considered a general trend for the development of the Internet. However as national strengths, statuses and interests change, there should be rational guidelines for the Internet, which should be drawn up in line with the national interests, technological trends and the direction and the expectance of international communities and citizens of different countries.
In shaping a virtual world that is closely related to the physical world but has remained comparatively independent since its invention in the 1990s, the cyber world, marked by the Internet, has been developing so fast that it can be seen as a second space for human activities.
Undoubtedly, because of historical reasons and the changes among different powers, the Internet has nowadays been branded as the "Americanet" and the nickname has its reasons. But it would be unwise to abandon the Internet or set up a new one only for the sake of the alleged inequality.
Enumerable examples since the 1990s have proved that, despite its advantage as the birthplace of cyber technologies which make things convenient for companies and governments, the U.S. does not monopolize the management of cyberspace and acts unrestrictedly.
Take the IP addresses of geographic domain names for example. They were first set by the U.S. Department of Defense and then were transferred to ICANN and the U.S. Department of Commerce. Now, a more globalized management system is necessary for the future.
The goal of "One World, One Internet" is becoming closer, following complicated wrestling and arguing in the global community.
China, a country with a goal of building a strong Internet, cannot be ruled out of the process. It should participate in the international cyberspace system to draw up relevant rules and regulations.
However, the openness of the Internet should be supported by sovereign equality. Cyberspace should be developed on the same basis of integrity and equality of sovereignty. Parties, especially sovereign states, should have equality in cyberspace, even if their capabilities vary. Equality can prevent countries from using technology as a weapon against others, which can be exemplified by the U.S. Prism controversy, in which Uncle Sam unrestrainedly launched surveillance around the world in line with its self-centered double standards.
In cyberspace, national interests follow the boundaries of sovereign countries. Core interests that determine the survival of a country should never be infringed. Meanwhile, less important interests which remain inside the boundaries of countries in line with the traditional geographic and geopolitical concepts are increasingly shared by multinational companies and non-governmental-organizations (NGOs). There are also peripheral interests, which are in a state of "anarchy," that rely on technologies, strategies and the power of voices that are competing in the world.
Competition for cyberspace management will reach a new pinnacle as the U.S. government announced its intention to transfer the management of ICANN. In viewing the Internet as a shared property for all people, China is facing great challenges as well as historical opportunities in joining the new round of cooperation and competition.
The author is an associate professor of International politics at Fudan University.
This article was published in Chinese and translated by Wu Jin.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
