Why India is at risk from China's cyberwar ability

Without being drawn into a US network of allies and partners aimed at containing China, India can promote strategic convergence with the US and build up its defences against China. On the other hand, the coming year of the Obama presidency will be marked by a new preoccupation with likely threats to US economic, commercial and other strategic interests from the increasing capabilities and intentions of China and to the critical infrastructure —civilian as well as military– in the US homeland from the well-concealed Chinese cyber war capabilities. Since the beginning of last year, there are indications that fears over likely threats to the US critical infrastructure, in times of peace and war, from China’s cyberwar capabilities have become an important driving force of the US strategic doctrine relating to the Asia-Pacific region. These reports of a cyberwar doctrine under evolution and the recent decisions of the Obama administration to maintain and strengthen its military capabilities in the Asia-Pacific region are meant to convey a carefully disguised cautionary message to China to behave itself not only in the high seas, but also in cyberspace.The US is determined to prevent China from acquiring an asymmetric advantage in cyberspace by threatening China with a military response against targets in its territory to neutralise its cyberwar capabilities should it become necessary. The United States will continue to make the necessary investments to ensure that we maintain regional access and the ability to operate freely in keeping with our treaty obligations and with international law… Working closely with our network of allies and partners, we will continue to promote a rules-based international order that ensures underlying stability and encourages the peaceful rise of new powers, economic dynamism, and constructive defense cooperation.” The focus in the Pentagon document released to the media is on China’s non-cyber capabilities, but there are reports that the US is equally concerned—if not more—over China’s cyberwarfare capabilities and intentions.