China announces global security standards initiative amid tensions with the US over data security

Eight proposals were outlined in a statement given by Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, calling for a multilateral approach to mitigate data risks.

China’s proposals call upon to handle data security in a comprehensive, objective and evidence-based way, and condemn using data to undermine the national security and interests of other states, according to Global Times.

They oppose mass surveillance against other states, and advocate respect for the sovereignty, jurisdiction and data governance of other states, stating that any bilateral data agreements should not infringe the data security and judicial sovereignty of third states.

In addition, China requests states not to ask domestic companies to store data from overseas in their own territory, stating that tech products and services should not contain backdoors that obtain user data illegally, control or manipulate users’ devices or systems, or exploit user dependence on their products.

“Global data security rules that reflect the wishes of all countries and respect the interests of all parties should be reached on the basis of universal participation by all parties,”

Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi - reported by Reuters

“Some individual countries are aggressively pursuing unilateralism, throwing dirty water on other countries under the pretext of ‘cleanliness’, and conducting global hunts on leading companies of other countries under the pretext of security. This is naked bullying and should be opposed and rejected.”