How to Prevent War with China with Dmitri Alperovitch and Chris Krebs
Apr 25, 2024
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Cybersecurity experts Dmitri Alperovitch and Chris Krebs discuss China's threat, potential Taiwan invasion, cyber warfare tactics, semiconductor chips, and US-China relations. The conversation delves into geopolitical risks, economic impacts, and lessons from Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Bipartisan concerns regarding Chinese activities like potential Taiwan invasion and TikTok influence signal growing apprehension.
The significance of semiconductor chips, especially from Taiwan, underscores the need for US chip independence and resilience against China's influence.
Deep dives
Claude 3 Family Models by Anthropic: A Balancing Act of Speed and Intelligence
Anthropic offers the Claude 3 family models designed for Enterprise AI, comprising Haiku, Opus, and Sonnet. Haiku prioritizes speed and agility, Opus stands out for high-order thinking abilities, and Sonnet strikes a balance between speed and intelligence. These models cater to different enterprise needs seeking to navigate the intricacies of AI integration effectively.
President Biden's Trilateral Meeting and Concerns over China's Actions
President Biden's recent trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fami Ashita and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. aimed to strengthen economic ties and address security in the South China Sea. Chinese leader Xi Jinping's actions loomed large over the discussions, with concerns raised about Chinese espionage, TikTok's influence, and possible plans to invade Taiwan. The passing of a foreign aid bill with provisions for Taiwan's support and discussions around potential TikTok bans reflect the growing apprehension towards Chinese activities.
Cybersecurity Implications of a Taiwan Invasion and the Power Play in Asia
The scenario of a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan raises critical cybersecurity concerns and geopolitical repercussions. Dismantling Taiwan's cybersecurity infrastructure and controlling global information networks are part of China's strategic moves. The cascade effect on global economies, coupled with the shift in power structures in Asia, presents complex challenges. The vulnerability of U.S. dependence and the intricate cyber warfare strategies amplify the stakes in this high-tension scenario.
US Concerns with TikTok and China Impact on US Politics
The discussion delved into the concerns around TikTok, highlighting the importance of treating it as a media company due to its control over content dissemination and access to a large American audience. There were bipartisan efforts to address this, with a proposed bill focusing on forcing divestment from TikTok. Additionally, the conversation explored broader cybersecurity risks from China and the potential implications of Washington's actions on TikTok.
Significance of Semiconductor Chips and US Strategy
The podcast highlighted the critical role of semiconductor chips, especially in the context of Taiwan being a major producer. It emphasized the importance of chips in various industries, including AI, and the implications of chip production delays seen during the pandemic. The conversation also touched on efforts to bolster US chip production through investments, with a focus on achieving greater independence and addressing China's influence in the chip market.
Kara discusses the “pacing threat” that is China – from TikTok to cyberattacks to semiconductors and Taiwan – with two cybersecurity experts: Dimitri Alperovitch, co-founder and former CTO of CrowdStrike and author of the new book World on the Brink: How America Can Beat China in the Race for the 21st Century, and Chris Krebs, Chief Intelligence Officer at SentinelOne and former Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency under President Trump (until he was fired in a tweet for batting down Trump’s election lies).
The episode features an expert question from a previous On guest: former Congressman Mike Gallagher, the Republican from Wisconsin who chaired the Select Committee on the CCP. If you like this episode, make sure you go back to listen to that conversation as well.
This conversation was taped live at American University on April 19, 2024.
Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find Kara on Instagram/Threads as @karaswisher