The code not taken: China, the United States, and the future of cyber espionage
Adam M. Segal · Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists · 2013
China has drawn unwanted attention with its aggressive efforts to break into US government and business computer networks to steal information. The attacks are aimed at giving China a competitive economic advantage, and President Barack Obama is among those concerned that their continuation could weaken the United States economically. Washington has begun working with Beijing on cyber issues; more cooperation is needed in a range of many other areas. The question moving forward, the author writes, is whether the two countries can reduce the chances of destructive cyber conflict while continuing to conduct espionage against each other? Both China and the United States have a common interest in protecting national infrastructure from third-party attacks, but neither appears willing to give up cyber espionage.