全球数字基建中的国家安全与战略选择——以全球海底光缆为例

National Security and Strategic Options in Global Digital Infrastructure:A Case Study of Global Submarine Cables

当前,数字基础设施与国家的政治安全与经济发展密不可分。全球数字基建中的国家安全具体表现为数字连接安全,具有脆弱性和不可信任性两大风险特质。受制于技术实力和国际压力双重因素,国家在全球数字基建中面临的安全环境可分为强安全、中等安全、弱安全三类。这三类安全促使国家选择不同的全球数字基建战略。其中,处于强安全环境的国家所面临的脆弱性和不可信任性风险相对较低,因而更容易设定较高安全阈值,刺激国家采取护持战略。中等安全环境中的国家往往采取发展战略与防御战略相结合的方式,并因自身面临的技术实力和国际压力的大小不同,形成对脆弱性与不可信任性两大风险的认知差异,在选择发展战略与防御战略时会有所侧重。弱安全环境中的国家在技术实力方面均相对不足,因而在面临较大国际压力时倾向于选择防御战略,当面临的国际压力较小时则更容易选择依附战略。中国的数字连接环境正处于中等安全水平,在参与全球数字基建时须综合运用防御战略与发展战略,在人类命运共同体理念下,以“一带一路”倡议为平台,致力于塑造全球数字连接环境的共同安全。

At present,digital infrastructure,a fundamental presence for the realization of global digital activities,has become an important foundation for states to organize human production and life in the digital space,enhance national capacity and realize national will and goals.Therefore,it is inextricably tied to the political security and economic development of states.National security issues in global digital infrastructure are typically represented by the integrity and security of digital connectivity that is exposed to two major risks:vulnerability and untrustworthiness.Technological strength and international pressure are the two important factors that determine the security environment faced by states in global digital infrastructure,which can be categorized as strong,medium or weak.This prompts states to form different strategic choices in terms of global digital infrastructure.States in a strong security environment face a relatively low level of vulnerability and untrustworthiness,leading it to set higher security thresholds and adopt maintenance strategies.States in a medium security environment tend to adopt a development strategy,as well as a defense strategy.However,based on different technological strengths and various levels of international pressure,states differ in their perceptions of vulnerability and untrustworthiness,and choose their development and defense strategies accordingly.States in a weak security environment are relatively underpowered in terms of technological strength and tend to opt for a defense strategy when they face a higher level of international pressure,and a dependency strategy when they face a lower level of international pressure.Given that China’s digital connectivity environment is featured by a medium level of security,it is advisable to combine the defense strategy with the development strategy when China participates in global digital infrastructure.Meanwhile,China is also committed to shaping common security of the global digital connectivity environment under the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative.