Cybersecurity

Pedestrians at a crossing in the Zhujiang New Town area in Guangzhou, China, on 16 November 2023. (Qilai Shen/Bloomberg)

[Big read] Invest or leave: Foreign firms adjusting to China's changing investment climate

Lianhe Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing notes that as China’s economic and business policies shift and change, foreign companies are finding it difficult to decide whether to stay in China or pull out, given the challenges in meeting new regulations and requirements. But there are others who see opportunities.
This photo taken on 10 November 2023 shows fighters of the ethnic rebel group Ta'ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) walking down a street market in the town of Namhkam in northern Shan state. A surprise offensive by Myanmar ethnic armed groups has blocked two strategically vital roads to the country's biggest trading partner China, choking cross-border commerce and denying the cash-strapped junta taxes and foreign exchange. (Mai Nyi/AFP)

Why Myanmar’s warring groups are vying to combat cybercrimes

In an unexpected twist, the warring groups in Myanmar’s civil war have a unified goal: combating cybercrime and ingratiating themselves with China.
The aims of malicious actors conducting cyberattacks on critical infrastructure vary. (Kacper Pempel/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

China-based hacking groups: Keeping critical infrastructure cyber-safe

With recent reports of a China-based state-sponsored hacking group targeting US critical infrastructure, RSIS academic Eugene Tan examines some common modes of cyberattacks around the world and the latest furore around alleged China-based hacking groups such as Volt Typhoon and Storm-0558.
A smartphone with a displayed Micron logo is placed on a computer motherboard in this illustration taken on 6 March 2023. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

China’s ban on Micron roils domestic memory chip market

US giant Micron Technology Inc. is facing a series of setbacks in China. With Chinese companies unlikely to take the risk of purchasing Micron products, who will fill the gap?
Beijing has put in place new measures to tighten its grip over domestic data to protect national security. (Thomas White/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

How China is tightening controls over cross-border data transfers

In an effort to tighten its grip over domestic data to protect national security, Beijing has implemented the Measures on the Standard Contract for the Cross-Border Transfer of Personal Information, requiring certain personal data processors to sign contracts with overseas recipients before sending data abroad.
The chip battle wears on amid greater technological rivalry between China and the US. (Florence Lo/Reuters)

Micron ban: Will there be a winner in the China-US chip war?

With China barring domestic operators of critical information infrastructure from procuring products from US chipmaker Micron as the latest move in the China-US chip war, there are concerns about whether moving too strongly might lead to China hurting itself instead. Zaobao correspondent Chen Jing takes a look at how the chip war might play out.
Silhouettes of laptop users are seen next to a screen projection of binary code are seen in this picture illustration taken 28 March 2018. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

Web3 with Chinese characteristics: Finding China's solution for regulators, developers and users

Crypto ban notwithstanding, China’s getting firmly in the act of building Web3 infrastructure to its specifications. While China is unlikely to allow global Web3 to play a role in its economy or the lives of its citizens, Chinese developers and entrepreneurs remain fascinated by the promise of global Web3 platforms and cryptocurrencies. This portends the development of two blockchain markets in China: one which caters to those who “jump” the virtual fence to join in the global Web3 movement, and one which uses blockchain in line with Beijing’s vision.
Southeast Asian governments have to step up cybersecurity and IP law enforcement. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Southeast Asia should confront the threat of economic espionage from China and elsewhere

China is known for using cyber weapons to pursue geostrategic goals. In recent years, entities linked to the Chinese state have carried out alleged economic espionage of commercial firms in Southeast Asia. The region is increasingly vulnerable as it is home to some of the most rapidly growing knowledge-intensive sectors in the world. To help themselves, Southeast Asian governments should be more proactive in discussing the threat of economic espionage with foreign states and committing to norms of responsible state behaviour in cyberspace.
People walk past the headquarters of the Chinese ride-hailing service Didi in Beijing, China, 3 December 2021. (Thomas Peter/File Photo/Reuters)

Does end of Didi probe signal new beginnings for China’s internet economy?

With the economic and political blowback from its regulatory crackdowns in the past two years, coupled with economic pressures from the pandemic, the Chinese authorities may be ready to ease up on high-pressure regulations of the internet sector.