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Home > Open Access Journals > JSS > Vol. 4 > Volume 4, No. 2, Summer 2011: Strategic Security in the Cyber Age

 

Author Biography

Magnus Hjortdal is a researcher associated with CHINA-SEC, Centre for Military Studies at the University of Copenhagen. He holds an M.Sc. in Political Science from the University of Copenhagen and is owner of MH International Relations, which advises private and public institutions. Former Research Fellow at the Royal Danish Defense College, where he drew assessments and advised Danish authorities. Frequently featured in Danish television, radio, and print media. Expertise: China; East Asia; the U.S.; foreign, defense, and security policy; cyber warfare; intelligence; and espionage.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.5038/1944-0472.4.2.1

Subject Area Keywords

China, Counterintelligence, Cybersecurity

Abstract

This article presents three reasons for states to use cyber warfare and
shows that cyberspace is—and will continue to be—a decisive element in
China's strategy to ascend in the international system. The three reasons
are: deterrence through infiltration of critical infrastructure; militarytechnological
espionage to gain military knowledge; and industrial espionage
to gain economic advantage. China has a greater interest in using
cyberspace offensively than other actors, such as the United States, since
it has more to gain from spying on and deterring the United States than
the other way around. The article also documents China's progress in
cyber warfare and shows how it works as an extension of its traditional
strategic thinking and the current debate within the country. Several
examples of cyber attacks traceable to China are also presented. This
includes cyber intrusions on a nuclear arms laboratory, attacks on defense
ministries (including the Joint Strike Fighter and an airbase) and the U.S.
electric grid, as well as the current Google affair, which has proved to be a
small part of a broader attack that also targeted the U.S. Government.
There are, however, certain constraints that qualify the image of China as
an aggressive actor in cyberspace. Some believe that China itself is the victim
of just as many attacks from other states. Furthermore, certain actors
in the United States and the West have an interest in overestimating
China's capabilities in cyberspace in order to maintain their budgets.

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