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| 2019/04/15 10:12:09瀏覽3281｜回應0｜推薦0 | |
| What is the long-term ramification of China’s concession on CLOUD COMPUTING? （中文版将于2019年4月21日发布）
Let’s not fool ourselves, the trade war between China and US is not based on or emanate from sincere effort to achieve fairness and balance in the economics of business flow or to ameliorate the overall business relationship between the two countries. Rather the trade war is motivated purely by a perversely competitive geopolitical agenda, where aggression tactics of attack, inflicting damage and destruction rule the day, conveniently hiding under hackneyed terms such as “leveling the playing field”, market access, subsidies, etc… Given this background of the trade war, it is particularly vital for the Chinese to assiduously examine, comprehend and assess the true long-term ramifications of any concession regarding CLOUD COMPUTING. In fact, many of the ramifications of concession on cloud computing cannot even be foreseen let alone be understood given the fast pace of technology changes and given US’s relatively static, linear view of the world as seen through myopic American lens based on the status quo. Cloud Computing is NOT simply central storage of data. It is as vital piece of a sovereign nation’s infrastructure as power grid, internet, water supply, etc…, especially for a country the size of China. Its an absolutely integral component to China’s 5G, AI, advanced manufacturing, advanced vehicle, advanced energy and advanced fintech (financial technology) initiatives. Needless to say cloud computing is of paramount importance to China national security both at the civilian as well as governmental level. The indispensable role of cloud computing will accelerate tremendously and take very deep as well as wide roots in the very near future once 5G starts to roll out. It goes way beyond data privacy and security which already are clearly matters of national sovereignty. If steel and aluminum are national security concerns for US then core digital infrastructure component such as cloud computing are undoubtedly issues of national survival, not just simply an issue of commercial market participation as Americans paint the picture. Cloud computing cannot be watered down and treated as an isolated item by itself. It is minimally an unusually proficient means to offer online software services that are intimately tied to American companies that have asymmetrically strong ties, formal or informal, with the US government, whereby they wouldn’t have the slightest hesitation in sacrificing their Chinese customer’s interest. Specifically, Amazon, Microsoft, Google, IBM, Cisco, etc… are all under the leash of US government, especially when it comes to China. In fact, perhaps with the exception of Google, these companies all have recently bid on the US Defense Departments USD$10 billion cloud computing project. Moreover, because of the online software services available through the omnipresent but opaque cloud computing mechanisms, US tech companies invariably see cloud computing as a set of stealth, subterranean mechanisms for breaking into and fracture the current Chinese on-line ecosystem. This type fundamental disruption can cause all sorts of problems for the flourishing Chinese e-commerce and fintech ecology. Because cloud computing fundamentally relies on enlisting large number of or heavy users to increase profitability on economy of scale, this voracious multiplier effect can likely pose very significant problems at all levels depending on application. It will definitely lead to substantially more convoluted frictions and tension between US and China simply because issues are never what they seem as stated but are born from hidden agendas of domineering aggression. Talking about flow of trade secrets and theft of insider information, not expecting these American tech companies to act two-faced towards China is pure stupidity. As China advances rapidly in technology and closes the tech gap with US, one can certainly count on the US being the accelerated leader of the pack in theft of trade knowledge on all fronts as matter of institutionalized national policy. It’s already a reality. Improperly regulated, monitored and supervised cloud computing participation by American companies clearly provides a fertile environment for security and privacy breaches and misconducts by foreign entities regardless how its carried out and labeled, whether it be espionage, governance meddling, cyber-theft, etc…. Its already happening to and in the US who also happens to be by far the prolific digital malefactor in the world. However, Chinese regulation and control of cloud computing invariably will be challenged in convoluted complaints by the US, even if the same requirements or restrictions have been carried out in the US. Other countries may be willing to take in more of American cloud computing services because they lack the resource to properly develop their own capabilities or perceive themselves as being or recognized by US as an “American ally”. It’s a well-known fact that China has already been officially told by the US repeatedly that China is nowhere near being an ally but rather falling just barely short of being an enemy, in fact an adversary. Further, many countries do not have a coherent understanding of the role of cloud computing in the next round digital revolution. In the context of national security and economic sovereignty cloud computing as a service is in a far different category from Starbucks or McDonalds. Hence, Chinese trade negotiators would be outright stupid to harbor any illusions in this regard when dealing with cloud computing. China needs to make the correct moves based on China’s own circumstances and requirements. China’s digital infrastructure and digital ecology, digital culture and digital governance are very much different from those of US. Any surgical insertion of reckless foreign adaptation can be highly problematic, if not catastrophic, and as such is unforgivable. Knowing how important cloud computing is to America’s global digital strategy, perhaps its why the US trade negotiators strategically positioned the issue near the end of the process to pressure and trap Chinese team into glossing over it and carelessly acquiescing to China’s own detriment. China may well walk away if satisfactory resolution on cloud computing is not achieved. It is said that the US wants to strategically disrupt, drastically weaken and dissociate from Chinese supply chain for manufacturing in China. Yet US wants to forcibly squeeze itself into the much more profitable service sector and dictate the service provision processes in its own image. It’s indeed a draconian strategy. Chinese trade negotiator need to understand this and work for sustainable growth in China. For these and myriad other reasons, the Chinese trade negotiation team definitely should engage in extensive consultation with technology experts, technology visionaries, industry experts as well as relevant Chinese enterprises to thoroughly study the issues involving cloud computing and say “NO” to American pressure in the context of this trade war. Again, cloud computing is not simply an isolated negotiation item just about central storage service. Jennie PC Chiang/江佩珍, 美國 2019年4月14日 Ps. Routed and presented on behalf of Shui Fang Chou |
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