The 13th Meeting of BRICS National Security Advisers and High Representatives
on National Security in Johannesburg, South Africa, from Monday to Tuesday is
undoubtedly a preparatory gathering for the BRICS Summit to be hosted by South
Africa next month.
It provided developing countries with a platform to share their experiences,
wisdom and practices on cybersecurity so as to better coordinate their efforts
to improve good governance in cyberspace. That is becoming an urgent task given
the developed countries' increasingly obvious intention of taking advantage of
their strengths in technology, finance and infrastructure to turn the internet
from a public good to a leverage they can use to protect hegemony and vested
interests, instigate divisions and confrontation, and incite coups and
unrest.
As reflected by remarks of the participants at the meeting, cybersecurity is
a common challenge developing countries face, and thanks to the high penetration
of the internet, cybersecurity should be regarded as a key foundation of
national security, as important as food and energy security. As such, they have
reached a consensus that they have to strengthen strategic communication and
make clear the direction of cooperation to safeguard their common interests.
To that end, the four-point proposal China's senior diplomat Wang Yi put
forward at the meeting deserves the attention of all parties, including the
developed countries. As Wang urged, countries should practice genuine
multilateralism, support the United Nations in playing a central role in global
cyberspace governance, fully heed the legitimate concerns of developing
countries, establish fair and reasonable international rules, and establish a
democratic and transparent internet governance system.
To safeguard cybersecurity, the international community should respect each
country's independent choice of cyber development path and management model,
practice the concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable
security, advocate the peaceful use of cyberspace, firmly resist an arms race in
cyberspace, and oppose attempts to use cyberspace for instigating "color
revolutions".
Particularly, the use of information and communication technology should be
effectively regulated and joint efforts should be made to combat cybercrimes,
promote digital connectivity, narrow the digital divide, strengthen
international cooperation in technological innovation, and promote the economic
and social development of all countries.
The vitality of cyberspace stems from connectivity and openness. As Wang
pointed out, cyberspace should be a "big stage" on which a hundred flowers
bloom, rather than a "new battlefield" between the two sides of a digital iron
curtain.
The proposals are a practical blueprint for addressing the challenges of
cybersecurity.
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