US Says "Democracy Is Under Threat" at New Technology Meeting to Contain China

Emphasizing Strengthening US Technological Competitiveness to Counter China
"Must Fight to Uphold the Internet Value of Transparency"
Also Stresses Enhancing Cybersecurity Amid Repeated Ransomware Attacks

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] At a meeting of senior U.S. officials on new technology competition, the U.S. Secretary of State delivered a strong message of containment against China.

Tony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, attended the "Global Emerging Technologies Senior-Level Meeting" held on the 13th (local time) by the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence (NSCAI), established in 2018 to advise the U.S. President and Congress, emphasizing the need to secure an advantage in technological competition with China while preventing the misuse of internet technologies.

The meeting was attended by Secretary of State Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

"Democracy is being threatened by the misuse of internet technology"

Speaking as a panelist, Secretary Blinken announced that the U.S. will take the lead in establishing international norms to prevent the misuse of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

He said, "We will uphold the values of the internet: transparency, safety, and reliability," adding, "We will stand up and fight to protect these values."

Blinken’s remarks directly criticized China’s increasing internet censorship used to control public opinion not only among its own citizens but also in Hong Kong. It is also interpreted as expressing concern over the Chinese government’s indiscriminate collection of citizens’ data and the introduction of surveillance technologies using artificial intelligence.

In particular, Secretary Blinken warned about the risks of China’s misuse of technology.

He stated, "China is firmly determined to become the world’s technology leader and has comprehensive plans and resources to achieve that ambition," adding, "We must protect our competitive edge."

He also emphasized that countries like China do not distinguish between civilian and military uses, and stressed the need to change the way of thinking to protect U.S. industry and innovation against such misuse.

He continued, "This is a matter that concerns our democratic values," and stressed, "We must build and implement ways to use technology in a manner that protects democracy."

Secretary Blinken noted that the U.S. cannot do this alone and needs partners, citing cooperation with South Korea, Japan, the four Quad countries, and the Group of Seven (G7).

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Gina Raimondo, U.S. Secretary of Commerce
[Photo by Reuters]

Blinken’s remarks reflect the U.S. government’s determination to secure technological superiority over China amid intensifying competition for technological hegemony.

The U.S. Department of Commerce recently placed numerous Chinese artificial intelligence companies on a trade blacklist, banning these firms from purchasing U.S.-made equipment.

Last month, the U.S. Senate passed the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, a $250 billion (approximately 287 trillion KRW) bill aimed at supporting advanced technology industries to counter China.

The bill includes provisions for the U.S. government to strengthen its semiconductor supply chain and provide incentives to semiconductor companies.

At the event, Secretary of Defense Austin also stated that China poses a threat by catching up to the U.S. in the field of artificial intelligence, emphasizing, "We will compete to win, and we will do so the right way."

National Security Advisor Sullivan also spoke, introducing the Biden administration’s efforts to build technological alliances.

He said, "We have launched new quantum cooperation partnerships with Japan and South Korea on critical emerging technologies ranging from semiconductors to genomics and quantum," mentioning South Korea.

Following repeated ransomware attacks, Biden strongly warns, "If Russia does not act, we will respond"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Additionally, the ongoing ransomware attacks targeting the U.S. are seen as another reason why the U.S. government emphasizes the need to secure a competitive edge in internet technology.

Secretary Blinken said, "Ransomware attacks are a national security issue," adding, "They pose a direct threat to our nation’s safety and the lives of our people. We are treating this as a top priority on our diplomatic agenda."

This reflects the U.S. commitment to strengthening its cybersecurity capabilities to minimize damage from ransomware attacks and protect national security.

In the U.S., at the end of May, JBS SA, one of the world’s largest meat processing companies, was hit by a ransomware attack. Earlier, the U.S. pipeline company Colonial Pipeline experienced disruptions in fuel supply to the southeastern region due to a ransomware attack.

Recently, U.S. IT security management company Kaseya was targeted by a cyberattack, affecting over 1,500 companies worldwide that use Kaseya’s services.

All these attacks have been attributed to hacker groups based in Russia.

In response, President Joe Biden held a one-hour phone call with Vladimir Putin on the 9th, urging Putin to take action regarding the cyberattacks and warning that the U.S. would respond if the attacks continue.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.