Updated Apr. 26, 2024 4:48PM GMT+9
The tech war between the United States and China has ushered in an era where cybersecurity plays a pivotal role in safeguarding crucial technologies against threats, according to a South Korean security professional speaking on Wednesday.
Professor Ryou Jae-cheol, with the Department of Computer Science & Computer Engineering at Chungnam National University, underscored the evolving landscape of global hegemonic competition during his keynote address at the 30th Network Security Conference Korea (NetSec-KR), hosted by the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology (KIISC) and the Korea Internet & Security Agency (KISA).
Ryou pointed out that while geographical considerations were central to conflicts between nations during the trade wars of the 1950s, the focus has now shifted dramatically to one in which global powers vie for technological dominance. He elaborated on the intense competition between the U.S. and China in the tech sphere, highlighting their efforts to gain the upper hand by advancing state-of-the-art technologies such as sixth-generation wireless networks, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, and quantum computing.
Professor Ryou specifically highlighted the tensions between the two countries regarding AI technology. He mentioned that China had filed the most AI-related patents at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in 2022, almost twice the number submitted by the U.S. Conversely, the U.S. ranked at the forefront of the global AI index conducted by Tortoise Media in 2023, scoring 100 points, while China followed closely with a score of 62. The global AI index analyzed 62 countries based on three key aspects: investment, innovation, and implementation, and ranked the nations accordingly.
Ryou, who served as the 26th President of the KIISC, emphasized that the significance of cybersecurity will escalate as the tech war persists, with the number and importance of crucial technologies at risk continuing to increase. “Such technologies themselves could easily be targeted by cyberattacks. This means we are living in an era where cybersecurity has become of the utmost importance,” explained Ryou. He highlighted the efforts of both China and the U.S. in establishing stringent security measures. Additionally, he referenced the words of Chinese President Xi Jinping, who emphasized that without cybersecurity, there is no national security, thus underlining the critical importance of securing cyberspace.
“The U.S. is applying their core values, such as freedom and openness, to their cybersecurity strategies, whereas China takes a more closed approach. There is a clash between these two different strategies,” explained Ryou. “South Korea needs to prioritize technological innovation. Without adaptation, we will be unable to withstand the significant and ever-intensifying influences of the U.S. and China.”
