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June 04, 2013

U.S., China to Hold Talks on Internet Hacking

By Ashok Bindra, TMCnet Contributor

Government computer break-ins and corporate data thefts are rising on a regular basis. To defuse such tensions at the government level, both the United States and China have agreed to hold diplomatic talks on how to curb these activities and ensure cyber security. The New York Times reports that it is the first diplomatic effort between the U.S. and China, which is expected to begin July.



As per the report, the talks are intended to set standards of behavior for cyber security and commercial espionage. The tone for cyber talks will be set when President Barack Obama meets China’s new president Xi Jinping this week in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Jinping took office in spring.

According to American officials, the hackers have stolen a variety of secrets, including negotiating strategies and schematics for next-generation fighter jets and gas pipeline control systems. In an interview with NYT, a senior unidentified American official, who will be actively involved in such negotiations, told reporters that “we need to get some norms and rules.”

“It is a serious issue that cannot simply be swatted away with talking points,” the official said, also indicating that the meetings would primarily focus on the theft of intellectual property (IP) from American companies. He further added, “Our concerns are not limited to that, but that’s what needs urgent attention.”

While the Obama administration and leading U.S. corporations continue to point fingers towards China, the Chinese government insists that it is also a victim of cyber attacks. The report indicates furthermore that Chinese officials are vehemently denying the charges. However, the Pentagon and private security experts have gathered enough evidence that suggests that a unit of the People’s Liberation Army, unit 61398 outside Shanghai, is behind many of these sophisticated attacks on the U.S.

While current cyber security talks are going to be just a part of the current strategic and economic discussion between the two countries, it is understood that these talks will be held more frequently between representatives of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Tim Junio of Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation told that Associated Press (News - Alert) that he does not expect much to change as a result of the Obama- Xi talks, saying, "China benefits too much by stealing intellectual property from the U.S., so it's really hard to imagine anyone convincing them to slow down."




Edited by Blaise McNamee
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