USCC Releases China Cyber Espionage Report

The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC) released a report on March 8, 2012 entitled, “Occupying the Information High Ground: Chinese Capabilities for Computer Network Operations and Cyber Espionage.” The report details how China is advancing its capabilities in computer network attack, defense, and exploitation and examines issues related to cybersecurity, China, and potential risks to U.S. national security and economic interests. The report was prepared for the USCC by Northrop Grumman Corp, and is a follow-up to an earlier 2009 report.

Among other things, the report concludes that:

• Chinese capabilities in computer network operations have advanced sufficiently to pose genuine risk to U.S. military operations in the event of a conflict;
• Chinese commercial firms, with foreign partners supplying critical technology and often sharing the cost of the R&D, are enabling the People's Liberation Army to receive access to cutting edge research and technology; and
• The Chinese military’s close relationship with large Chinese telecommunications firms creates an avenue for state sponsored or state directed penetrations of supply chains for electronics supporting U.S. military, government, and civilian industry -- with the potential to cause the catastrophic failure of systems and networks supporting critical infrastructure for national security or public safety.

Full report available here.

USCC press release announcing report (dated 03/08/12) here.