Security comes first in cloud computing
More than 50 members of the US congress jointly signed and sent a letter to Chinese Ambassador to Washington Cui Tiankai regarding their “concerns” about China’s restrictions on its domestic cloud computing market, requesting that US enterprises be given unlimited access, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
China not long ago issued draft regulations on the safe and smooth operation of the cloud computing market to solicit public opinions.
The US has been vigorously pursuing its business interests in its interactions with China. The developing cloud computing market will generate huge commercial benefits. US enterprises have early-entry advantage and technological competitiveness, but Chinese enterprises boast great potential regardless.
Unlike commodity markets, cloud computing is vital for a country’s sovereignty and security. The cloud works like a huge database, as it stores comprehensive information concerning a country’s politics, economy, military and other aspects, as well as the information of millions of businesses, households and individuals.
No country would completely open up its cloud computing market to the outside world, but instead will always keep it under its own administration. Setting up certain barriers and regulations is in line with international norms, as the area falls within a country’s sovereignty.
This letter is particularly alarming at a time when it has been revealed that US intelligence agencies have stolen information from the databases of other countries and even foreign presidents by using sophisticated hacking techniques.
The US lawmakers should ask themselves weather they would allow “unlimited access” by Chinese enterprises to vital areas of the US. Is Huawei allowed to sell its products in the US without limits? Why have Chinese companies been prevented from acquiring US semi-conductor enterprises?
They must be well aware that the US cloud computing market is not without limits too, only that its restrictions are placed on the demand side.
The Chinese cloud computing market has already achieved a high level of openness, without which Chinese technologies in this field wouldn’t be able to lead the world. China will continue to provide opportunities for cooperation with US companies in this regard, but will keep a tight grip on its administration.
We need to boost this sector’s development through encouraging competition and ensuring its safe operation.
China and the US will be engaged in both competition and cooperation in cloud computing, and the management of this market needs to be more precise as it opens to the world.