Cybersecurity Should Be Discussed When Chinese President Xi Visits White House, ITI Says

As President Barack "Obama prepares to welcome Chinese President Xi to the White House this month, cybersecurity concerns should be a priority topic of discussion,” wrote Information Technology Industry Council resident China trade policy expert John Lenhart on an ITI blog Wednesday. “U.S. and Chinese frustrations continue to run high due to concerns over Chinese involvement in the recent high-profile hack of the Office of Personnel Management, as well as continued Chinese concerns following the revelations of former NSA contractor Edward Snowden,” Lenhart said. “But pursuing actions of escalation would only serve to widen the divide between the two countries.” Strong and constructive engagement during the presidential summit would best be focused in a few key areas like committing to market competition and free trade, establishing consultative cybersecurity mechanisms, and addressing policies that create barriers to interconnectivity, Lenhart said. “The two countries cannot allow further escalation of cyber-tensions, as it threatens to undermine the mutually beneficial policies of commercial engagement we have enjoyed for the past 35 years.”