The Cyber Great Power strategy is China’s national development strategy for transforming itself from a cyber major power to a cyber great power. In February 2014, General Secretary Xi Jinping set the strategic goal of making China a Cyber Great Power and laid out clear requirements for achieving it, including mastering core Internet technologies, fostering a healthy online culture, improving information infrastructure, strengthening the ranks of Internet talent, and promoting international cooperation on the Internet. | 网络强国战略是中国为实现由网络大国到网络强国而拟定的国家发展战略。2014年2月，习近平总书记提出了努力把中国建设成为网络强国的战略目标，并从掌握互联网核心科技、建设健康网络文化、完善信息基础设施、加强互联网人才队伍建设、开展互联网国际合作等方面，对如何建设网络强国提出了明确的要求。
“The ‘Cyber Great Power’ Strategy,” State Council Information Office, March 16, 2018.
Note: The State Council Information Office incorrectly translates “网络强国战略” as “Internet Power Strategy” in its official English language translation.
On March 16, 2018, the State Council Information Office published a series of bilingual Chinese-English articles explaining “key words” from the 13th Five-Year Plan. One of these articles, titled “The ‘Internet Power’ Strategy,” describes Xi Jinping’s initial February 2014 proposal on “Cyber Great Power” at the inaugural meeting of the Central Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization.
The State Council Information Office (SCIO) article on the “Internet Power” strategy, which included an official English translation, are both cut and pasted below. The opening quote in this blog post is my translation of the Chinese version’s two opening sentences.
There is a striking difference between my English translation and the SCIO English translation of the same two Chinese sentences. The original SCIO Chinese version is quite informative, the SCIO English translation is not. The original SCIO Chinese version uses language tying “Cyber Great Power” back to Zheng Bijian’s proposal to the State Council Secretariat the previous year. The SCIO English version is watered down, substantively.
The SCIO English version also includes a mistranslation of “Cyber Great Power” (网络强国) as “Internet Power.”
“The ‘Internet Power’ Strategy,” State Council Information Office, March 16, 2018
The “Internet Power” Strategy
The “Internet Power” strategy aims to put China, a country with an extensive cyber presence, on track to an Internet technology leader. The strategy was proposed by Xi Jinping in February 2014. It calls for developing core Internet technologies, promoting a healthy cyber culture, strengthening IT infrastructure, improving talent management, and expanding Internet-related international cooperation. At its fifth plenary session in October 2015, the 18th CPC Central Committee incorporated the “Internet Power” strategy into the 13th Five-year Plan, further clarifying its strategic importance. This move was prompted by a growing understanding of the imperatives to pursue the development of information technology and the Internet and modernization, and the trends of globalization. Under the 13th Five-year Plan (2016-2020), China will step up efforts to encourage technological innovation, build a healthy cyber culture, strengthen infrastructure and cyber security, increase the use of information technology, and expand international cooperation as part of its “Internet Power” strategy. The goal is to provide easy access to IT infrastructure, enhance innovation, bolster the information economy, and ensure cyber security.
网络强国战略
网络强国战略是中国为实现由网络大国到网络强国而拟定的国家发展战略。2014年2月，习近平总书记提出了努力把中国建设成为网络强国的战略目标，并从掌握互联网核心科技、建设健康网络文化、完善信息基础设施、加强互联网人才队伍建设、开展互联网国际合作等方面，对如何建设网络强国提出了明确的要求。中共十八届五中全会将网络强国战略纳入”十三五”规划的战略体系，提出实施网络强国战略，从战略高度和顶层设计的角度进一步明确了建设”网络强国”的国家战略，这显示出中国领导人对信息化、网络化和现代化、全球化趋势的深刻理解和把握。”十三五”期间，中国将以技术创新助推强国战略，以网络文化根植强国战略，以基础设施牢筑强国战略，以网络安全和信息化护航强国战略，以国际合作提升强国战略，向着网络基础设施基本普及、自主创新能力显著增强、信息经济全面发展、网络安全保障有力的目标不断前进。
