China has a host of maritime ambitions, ranging from its Belt and Road initiative to its attempted influence over Taiwan. To boost its capacity and influence, Beijing had sought to fast track its development with stolen technology.
According to new research reviewed by the Wall Street Journal, hacking groups likely linked to the Chinese state went after U.S. institutions as well as those of our allies, targeting researchers with military-focused maritime expertise, strategic regional knowledge as well as those developing new technology.
The U.S. needs to respond by making cybersecurity into a national defense project, not some kind of add-on. Cyberdefense must not be limited to the government or contractors but it must also include academic researchers, institutions focused on emergent technologies with military applications, and private sector companies working with these technologies and the government. The U.S. must no more tolerate cyberattacks than it would physical theft of data or attacks.
Second, the need to safeguard our interests does not stop at our border. China’s hackers didn’t just go after U.S. institutions, but also those in China and South Korea and elsewhere. The aim was to gather research not only on new technology but also region-specific knowledge. America’s failures to work with our allies, their institutions and governments on cybersecurity undermines U.S. interests and leaves key resources vulnerable to Beijing, which increasingly acts as a rival.
Finally, the U.S. must recognize the value in research and innovation, including educating the next generation. It is emergent technology that will define U.S. standing on the world stage and investment in a robust academic infrastructure is key to maintaining superiority. At the same time, these educational institutions must also be wary of foreign threats and scrutinize who they are sharing sensitive research with and why in addition to implementing clear safeguards and verification processes.
Failure to take cybersecurity seriously leaves the best U.S. resources open to theft and attack. Even as Washington works to iron out a trade deal with Beijing that includes protections for intellectual property, that does not mean that we can afford to let down our guard or fail to help our allies prevent similar attacks.
