To Catch a Thief: China’s Rise to Cyber Supremacy Ep 5: A Cyber Detente
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Apr 7, 2025 Matt Turpin, former National Security Council China director and advisor to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, dives into the critical U.S.-China cyber diplomacy. He discusses the urgency of addressing Chinese trade theft as U.S. businesses were losing their secrets. The revelation of Edward Snowden complicated the narrative, unexpectedly creating a window for a diplomatic agreement with Xi Jinping. Turpin highlights the tensions of intellectual property theft, the challenges in negotiations, and the significant reduction in cyber breaches following their historic agreement.
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Early Efforts to Combat IP Theft
- The Bush and Clinton administrations tried to address Chinese IP theft.
- They used Section 301 investigations and tariffs, but enforcement was weak.
Naive Optimism
- Policymakers hoped China's economic growth and internet adoption would lead to better behavior.
- This optimism, fueled by the end of the Cold War, proved naive.
Partnership vs. Espionage
- The Clinton administration believed in a potential US-China global partnership.
- However, China's internal debate favored nationalism and espionage.