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ZHAO Minghao

In the context of the Trump administration’s escalating strategic competition with China, US strategic experts have a negative perception of the Digital Silk Road, believing that it poses challenges to US economic interests, technology development, military and intelligence security, international standards and ideologies. The US’ concern about the Digital Silk Road is to counter the Belt and Road Initiative, and also closely related to its China policy featuring the blocking of technology transfer, reflecting that US strategic experts are viewing its China policy from the perspective of “digital geopolitics”. In response to the Digital Silk Road, the US has increased investment in digital infrastructure, intensified crackdown against Chinese companies and deepened cooperation with its allies and partners. Besides, in order to contain China’s “digital influence”, the US has coped with economic issues with security thinking and stirred up ideological differences. The US regards Southeast Asia as the primary region in counterbalancing the Digital Silk Road, constantly improves the mechanisms and measures under the framework of the “Indopacific Strategy” and strengthens cooperation with Japan and other countries on digital economy, smart cities, cyber security and other fields to compete with China.