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An Analysis of Cyberspace Rule-Making in China-U.S. Relations



Author(s)

Zhao GENG

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DOI:10.17265/2328-2134/2018.01.002

As an established power and a rising power respectively, the U.S. and China have profound impacts on the development of cyberspace. The foundation of cyberspace governance is to constrain the behavior of every international actor with effective norms. Therefore, cyberspace rule-making has an important implication in China-U.S. relations and it is necessary for both sides to formulate cyberspace norms under mutually acceptable concepts. Besides, the ideas of “a new type of major power relations” and “a community with a shared future for mankind” provide theoretical foundation for cyberspace rule-making. In the short term, the establishment of norms can be promoted by negotiating limited issues, which could be called a low-level path. In the long run, they will reach informal mechanism which can be called a middle-level path, as well as formal mechanism of mutual recognition which can be seen as a high-level path, promoting the enforcement of cyberspace norms. Besides, “Track Two Diplomacy” and “Track 1.5 Diplomacy” also benefit the process of cyberspace rule-making negotiations.

cyberspace, rule-making, Sino-U.S. relations