Cyber sovereignty provides basis for effective cyberspace governance

Editor's Note:David Lee is a consultant and author based in Beijing who works on cross-cutting themes of energy, health, International politics and International development. The article reflects the author's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

Russia's passing of the "digital sovereignty bill" last month has raised the eyebrows of some pundits in the West, who were quick to point to Russia's "nationalization" of the Runet, as the internet is known in Russia, as well as the ominous rise of separate networks isolated from the global internet infrastructure.

Some Western commentators were keen to say that the current Russian effort was mimicking what had already been done in China. In fact, China and Russia have been identified as leading advocates of the "cyber sovereignty" concept, which, according to pundits, makes promotes government control over the internet, particularly information flows into and within the national networks.

While imposing negative connotation on "cyber sovereignty" in the discourse about cyberspace governance, some Western pundits intentionally or inadvertently deny a nation's sovereign right to govern its own cyberspace.

Cyberspace governance is a relatively new practice. The imbalance of the internet, where the West and particularly the United States enjoys an overwhelming technological upper hand, makes a case for sovereign governance even stronger in other parts of the world, which object to the over-simplified, politicized likening of cyber sovereignty with information control.

Cyber governance. /VCG Photo

In China, the conscious pursuit of cyber sovereignty has been instrumental for effective cyberspace governance. To put China's overall cyberspace governance practice in historical perspective, as the year 2019 marks the 25th anniversary of China connected to the internet, China has successfully developed a comprehensive legal and administrative framework over the years.

Earlier this week, China marked the first anniversary of the establishment of the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, which, like evolution and strengthening of its predecessor, the Central Cyberspace Affairs Leadership Group, continues to provide a top-level design for national cyberspace governance.

Exercising cyber sovereignty, China has shown an institutional approach based on the rule of law to address the rapidly changing landscape of cyberspace governance. The result? China boasts one of the world's most thriving cyberspace landscapes, with Chinese internet giants competing strongly on multiple fronts spanning from online payment to Fintech.

On top of adaptive, comprehensive laws and regulations, a couple of key features of the Chinese cyberspace governance approach includes: Firstly, China encourages the industry to cultivate a healthy culture of self-discipline, with Chinese industry associations playing a key role of house-keeping.

Secondly, China's growing regulatory framework leaves basic room for innovation to happen, as Chinese regulators have demonstrated its willingness to take necessary risks in controlled environments.

Of course, China doesn't have all the answers to cyberspace governance, and nobody has. Therefore, open discussion is key for the global community to address cyberspace issues together. That's why China is hosting high-profile forums, the World Internet Conference, in particular, to encourage healthy debates to inspire innovation, on both technology and governance fronts.

There are good reasons why China provides a cyberspace governance role model for developing economies that are keen to address the inherent imbalance of the internet. Even within the West, European countries are keen to maintain their cyber sovereignty. Maintaining cyber sovereignty is the starting point of meaningful competition. Then, upon the basis of cyber sovereignty, grows robust governance geared towards competitiveness.

At a time when fake news, privacy breach and manipulation of public opinion occupy the headlines, it's only normal and healthy for sovereign jurisdictions to develop, enact, and evolve their legal and administrative cyberspace governance frameworks. Only when doing so, visionary players must seek cooperation and coordination, free of ideological bias.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com.)