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IV. Leading International Security Governance in Emerging Fields

Emerging fields such as outer space, cyberspace, and AI represent new frontiers for human development. They create a new focus of strategic security, and new territories of global governance. China proposes that with the universal participation of all countries, the UN should play a pivotal role in fostering a global governance framework and standards for emerging fields based on broad consensus, while increasing the representation and voice of developing countries. States should take practical measures to prevent security risks, address security challenges, and promote peaceful uses of technologies in emerging fields. The discriminatory and exclusive rules, standards, and codes of conduct formulated by certain country blocs cannot replace universally accepted international norms, still less serve as an excuse for sanctioning and suppressing other nations.

1. Outer Space Security

The lasting peace and security in outer space is of vital importance to the security, development and prosperity of all nations and the wellbeing and long-term interests of humanity. China is always committed to the peaceful uses and the security of outer space. It firmly safeguards the international order in outer space based on international law, actively participates in global governance of outer space security, and advocates the building of a community with a shared future for humanity in the exploration and peaceful use of outer space. It resolutely opposes offensive space military policies, the creation of space military alliances, the weaponization of outer space, any attempt to turn outer space into a new theater of conflict, and any arms race there. It objects to the use of commercial space activities to intervene in other countries' armed conflicts or internal affairs.

Advocating comprehensive governance of outer space security. Outer space security rules that are open, inclusive, and universally-accepted hold the key to strengthening outer space security governance. China supports the UN in playing its role as the main platform in this endeavor — upholding multilateralism, providing comprehensive and harmonized responses to relevant issues, coordinating efforts in arms control and the peaceful uses and sustainable long-term development of outer space, facilitating the formulation of a comprehensive governance framework for outer space security, and ensuring all countries' common rights and interests in the peaceful exploration of outer space.

Working on the prevention of an arms race in outer space. An arms race in outer space constitutes the gravest and most fundamental threat to outer space security. Countering this threat is essential for ensuring peace, stability and sustainability in outer space, and reaching a legally binding instrument on arms control in outer space through negotiation is the fundamental solution. The Chinese-Russian draft of the Treaty on the Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space, the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (PPWT), initially submitted to the CD in 2008 and updated in 2014, formed the basis of the negotiation and conclusion of a legally binding instrument on outer space arms control. China facilitated the establishment of the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Further Practical Measures for the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space in 2017, and again in 2022, making substantive contributions to the formulation of a legally binding instrument in this regard. China's vision of a community with a shared future for humanity in the exploration and peaceful use of outer space has gained wide international support, with its inclusion in relevant UN General Assembly resolutions for several consecutive years.

Conducting aerospace activities with transparency and openness. China adheres to the principles of equality, mutual trust, transparency, and openness in aerospace activities and outer space governance. Through government white papers on space activities and national defense, information releases by the Ministry of National Defense, and other means, it has communicated on many occasions its commitment to peaceful space development and policies for outer space security, as well as its major activities, capacity development, and international cooperation efforts. It opens national aerospace infrastructure, such as launch sites and the Satellite Assembly, Integration and Test Center, to the public, diligently fulfills its international obligations including space objects registration, and notifies relevant states and international organizations regarding space activities, including spacecraft re-entry notices and collision alerts. It plays a constructive role in the UNGGE on Transparency and Confidence-Building Measures in Outer Space Activities and consistently co-sponsors relevant resolutions at the UN General Assembly.

Jointly maintaining peace and security in outer space. China develops space science and technology and advances its space programs for the benefit of humanity. It develops its Aerospace Force, safeguards national space activities, personnel, assets, and other interests, ensures secure access to and open uses of outer space, and increases its effectiveness in space crisis management and comprehensive governance. China is ready to work with all peace-loving countries to promote international exchange and cooperation on outer space security and contribute to lasting peace and common security in outer space.

2. Cybersecurity

The rapid development of the internet and digital technology has profoundly altered the global economy and security governance. The global threats created by bloc confrontation, militarization and division in cyberspace are increasingly prominent and exacerbating. Cyberspace is a common space for human activities, and its future should be in the hands of all countries. China actively advances global cyberspace governance and engages in international dialogue and cooperation. It firmly champions international rules, safeguards sovereignty and security, and promotes peace and stability in cyberspace.

Advocating the vision of a community with a shared future in cyberspace. In December 2015, China proposed building a community with a shared future in cyberspace, offering a solution to global internet development and governance. This vision establishes four principles for reforming global internet governance and a five-point initiative on building a community with a shared future in cyberspace. The four principles are: respect for cyber sovereignty, maintenance of peace and security, promotion of openness and cooperation, and formulation of good order. The five-point initiative advocates expediting the construction of global internet infrastructure for greater connectivity, building a shared online platform for cultural exchange and mutual learning, promoting innovative development of the cyber economy for common prosperity, ensuring cybersecurity for orderly development, and establishing an internet governance system for fairness and justice. China underlines the imperative for collective action to promote development, safeguard security, participate in governance, and share the benefits.

In 2023, China put forward the major initiative to raise the vision to a new stage, championing development as a priority, joint responsibility for common security, and mutual learning between cultures, and emphasizing the need to accelerate innovative, secure and inclusive development in cyberspace. Having been included into resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the vision has been widely acclaimed and welcomed by the international community.

Upholding the principle of cyber sovereignty. Cyber sovereignty constitutes the natural extension and application of the principle of sovereignty equality enshrined in the UN Charter to cyberspace. China holds that countries have the right to exercise jurisdiction over information and communications infrastructure, resources, data, and relevant activities within their territories, and protect their information systems and important data from threats, interference, attacks, theft and destruction. They are entitled to formulate their public policies, laws, and regulations on cyberspace to protect the legitimate internet rights and interests of their citizens, legal persons, and organizations. They have the right to jointly manage and equitably allocate foundational internet resources and build a multilateral, democratic and transparent international internet governance system. No nation shall abuse information and communications technologies to disseminate disinformation, interfere in other countries' internal affairs, promote "peaceful evolution" schemes, and instigate color revolutions, thereby endangering other countries' national security and social stability.

Safeguarding cyberspace peace and security. Peaceful uses of cyberspace are in the common interests of humanity, and maintaining cybersecurity is a responsibility shared by all countries. Cyberspace should not be turned into a new theater of geopolitical conflicts. China opposes attempts to "own the domain" from a position of strength and carry out large-scale, systemic and indiscriminate theft and cyberattacks around the globe. It condemns a certain country' wanton targeting of other nations' critical infrastructure in cyberattacks, which places global critical infrastructure at grave risk. It rejects the introduction of ideological confrontation and military alliance into cyberspace under the guise of "cybersecurity cooperation", including the deployment of cyber forces in the Asia-Pacific region, and the proliferation of cyber weapons and systems, which may increase risks of miscalculation and escalation.

Promoting international cooperation on cybersecurity. In March 2017, China released the International Strategy of Cooperation on Cyberspace for peaceful development and mutually beneficial cooperation in cyberspace. It has carried out bilateral cyber affairs dialogues and cooperation: establishing dialogue mechanisms with Russia, France, Germany, the EU, and ASEAN, and expanding practical cooperation in cyberspace and the digital sector with countries in Central Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean. It has worked with other SCO member states to release a heads-of-state joint statement on information security, set up an expert group on information security, and facilitated the conclusion of the Agreement on Cooperation in Ensuring International Information Security Between the Member States of the SCO with accompanying plans of cooperation. It has contributed to the agreement on the BRICS Roadmap of Practical Cooperation on Ensuring Security in the Use of ICTs and its progress report, identifying areas of cooperation such as policy exchange, emergency response, and collaboration on law enforcement.

Leading the efforts to build an international governance system for cybersecurity. China supports the establishment of a cybersecurity process under the UN framework with the participation of all parties, and promotes the formulation and implementation of universally accepted international rules on cybersecurity. In September 2011, China, together with Russia and others, jointly submitted the International Code of Conduct for Information Security to the UN General Assembly, which was updated and submitted again in 2015 by all the SCO members then. This was the first comprehensive and systematic international document dedicated to norms of behavior in cyberspace. In December 2021, in its position paper submitted to the UN, China elaborated on its principles and policies concerning the international rules for cyberspace.

China is an active participant in the UN Group of Governmental Experts on Developments in the Field of ICTs in the Context of International Security and the UN Open-Ended Working Group on Security of and in the Use of ICTs. It has advanced the adoption of the Framework for Responsible State Behavior in the use of ICTs based on the International Code of Conduct for Information Security. This framework explicitly affirms the applicability of the UN Charter to cyberspace, respects states' sovereignty, and stands as the sole code of conduct for states in global emerging technology governance. China is committed to full observation and implementation of the framework, and calls for developing new global rules on cyber and digital security in light of evolving circumstances and technological advancement. It maintains a prudent approach towards the application of the law of armed conflict to cyberspace issues, and encourages the formulation of new international legal instruments through inclusive discussions among all parties when condition permits.

Providing its solutions to global governance of data security. In September 2020, China launched the Global Initiative on Data Security, which proposes constructive solutions to major issues such as critical infrastructure and personal information protection, enterprises' overseas data storage and access, and supply chain security, providing a blueprint for developing relevant global rules. To pool strength for data security governance and shape a global data security governance system, in March 2021 and June 2022 China respectively released the China-League of Arab States Cooperation Initiative on Data Security with the League of Arab States and the China + Central Asia Data Security Cooperation Initiative with the five Central Asian countries. In November 2024, it proposed the Global Cross-Border Data Flow Cooperation Initiative to facilitate global cooperation on cross-border data flows and establish an efficient, convenient and secure mechanism for international data transfer.

Building up capacity to safeguard its cyber sovereignty and security. China has long been subjected to foreign cyber infiltration, espionage, and attacks, which pose complex and severe threats to its cyber sovereignty and critical infrastructure. China advances its cyberspace capabilities by strengthening cybersecurity defense, situation awareness, emergency response, disaster backup, and attribution and evidence collection. These measures enable timely detection of and defense against cyber intrusions, containment of cyber crises, deterrence against cyber conflicts, and greater cyber counterbalance ability, thereby solidifying national cyber borders. China will adopt all necessary measures to address cyberattacks against its critical infrastructure and steadfastly defend its cyber sovereignty and security.

3. Military Applications of AI

The rapid development and widespread application of AI technology has profoundly altered the way people work and live, brought new geopolitical uncertainties, and catalyzed a new wave of military transformation. Recent regional conflicts have demonstrated significant changes in warfare formats and approaches with the emergence of UAV swarms, intelligent weapon platforms, and AI-assisted systems, raising concerns in the international community. China champions the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity in AI development and places equal emphasis on development and security to ensure safe, reliable and controllable military applications of AI.

Upholding a people-centered approach and the principle of AI for good. China believes that military applications of AI should never undermine humanity's wellbeing; instead, they should facilitate trust among countries, help maintain global strategic stability, and prevent arms races. Human primacy must be upheld and human beings rather than weapons should be the decisive element for the outcome of a war. It is essential to ensure that human beings take the ultimate responsibility and that all relevant weapons systems are under human control to prevent unauthorized actions. The application of AI in the military domain must be conducted in accordance with International Humanitarian Law and other applicable international laws.

Calling for an international governance framework for the military applications of AI. China has launched the Global AI Governance Initiative and released the Position Paper of the People's Republic of China on Regulating Military Applications of AI, proposing that all countries, especially major countries, should take a prudent and responsible approach to developing and using AI technology in the military domain. China plays a constructive role in relevant discussions under the UN framework and advocates multilateralism, openness and inclusiveness. It supports the establishment of a universally inclusive international mechanism and a governance framework based on broad consensus. It opposes drawing ideological lines and overextending the concept of national security. It is dedicated to eliminating deliberately created sci-tech barriers to ensure that all countries have the right to develop and use technologies for peaceful purposes. It also thoroughly engages in the work of the Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons System under the framework of the CCW and contributes to the formulation of relevant guiding principles.

Reinforcing risk prevention and control in the military applications of AI. China does not and will not engage in any AI arms race with other countries; rather it advances its military intelligence and builds its modern military forces with Chinese characteristics in accordance with global military revolution trends, national security requirements, the practical needs of national defense, and the realities of its military development. Remaining prepared to worst-case scenarios and potential threats, China highlights the necessity to establish a quality control system and risk response mechanism, takes necessary measures to mitigate proliferation risks, and strengthens AI-related military ethics and security education.

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