Economic Cyber Espionage: The US-China Dilemma
Abstract
This paper provides an overview of the acceptance of the multi-faceted phenomenon of economic cyber-espionage among great powers by taking into account different perspectives. The paper illuminates the disagreement of the US on economic cyber espionage, especially China, and the widespread perception that China is conducting cyber espionage activities to steal intellectual property from the US military, private companies, and other nations with the goal of surpassing the US as the global superpower. The US advocates for the development of new standards that limit the use of cyber espionage for traditional intelligence purposes concerning national security decisions. This paper argues that, since China is now among the countries advocating technology licensing, the country also advocates for the development of these standards because they would not dare to lose more than they would gain from cyber espionage. The paper also highlights the need for further study to refine existing definitions and develop widely accepted monitoring mechanisms.
Keywords
Cyberspace, Espionage, Cyberespionage, Economic cyber Espionage
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