China's Conception of Cyber Sovereignty: Rhetoric and Realization

Abstract

Cyber sovereignty (wangluo zhuquan) is the foundational concept with which China’s leadership envisions its approach to governing domestic online affairs and engaging with the world outside. It is also the major point of controversy with ideas of online openness and freedom espoused by Western “like-minded” states. This paper will scrutinize two elements of cyber sovereignty. First, it will analyse how the concept developed in policy language, reflecting broader Chinese foreign policy concerns as well as an emerging focus on the influence of technology on social and political stability. Second, it will review how China has sought to navigate the dual imperatives of realizing national sovereignty and reaping the fruits of technological globalization through regulatory and policy means.

Keywords: China, cybersecurity, sovereignty, international law, digital technology