China team: Establishing a US-Japan-South Korea global cybersecurity order
Updated: Apr 6
Tongji University, December 2025
Problem: How can China, the United States, Japan, and South Korea interact to promote a global cybersecurity order?
Solution: A “Structure-Interaction-Stability” framework of shared governance
In this fall conference, the Tongji University team presented a comparative analysis of cyberspace security strategies in China, the United States, Japan, and South Korea. Cyberspace has shifted from a technical domain into a geopolitical competition, where national strategies reflect broader security concerns and power struggles in international relations. The team developed a “Structure-Interaction-Stability” analytical framework and evaluated each country’s strategy across multiple dimensions, such as strategic objectives and organizational practices.
The team found notable differences in national approaches to cyber policy. The United States tends to emphasize a leadership-oriented model that prioritizes digital partnerships and deterrence-focused strategies, which may influence the evolving structure of the global cyber environment. Japan and South Korea have increasingly adopted more proactive defense measures while continuing to operate within broader alliance frameworks, creating dynamics that can contribute to both stability and instability. China has pursued a more independent approach that places greater emphasis on legal and regulatory governance to balance security priorities with technological and economic development.
The team concluded that these competing models generate competitive instability that raises the risk of conflict despite attempts at deterrence or cooperation. The study argues that reducing competitive instability in cyberspace requires a shift from zero-sum thinking to a model of common security. Rather than competing for dominance, states should strengthen institutional rules and expand practical cooperation in areas such as joint exercise notifications, supply chain security, and cyber incident response. Ultimately, these collective choices will determine whether we head toward a shared future or a more fragmented world.
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