Governments around the world are looking to improve their cyber defenses against a variety of threats.
In the Indo-Pacific region, Japan, Australia, India and the United States met in Tokyo to discuss the threats posed by China to both cybersecurity and maritime security in the region.
The UK is meanwhile “hopelessly exposed” to cyber threats, according to government Science Secretary Peter Kyle (via The Guardian).
Increasing threats and risks
Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa told the summit in Tokyo that “to achieve prosperity in the region, we must ensure the stability of the foundations in the maritime, cyber and space domains. The Quad nations aim to protect the foundations of prosperity in the Indo-Pacific while seeking to achieve an international community of coexistence and co-prosperity.”
Without specifically mentioning China, he also claimed that “a certain country” was launching cyber attacks and escalating tensions in “a certain region,” adding that “the Quad nations aim to protect the foundations of prosperity in the Indo-Pacific as we seek to achieve an international community of coexistence and co-prosperity” (via Independent).
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken reaffirmed his commitment to countering China’s activities in the region, including its escalating rhetoric about forcibly reuniting Taiwan with the mainland, saying: “We have not lost sight of, in fact we are resolutely focused on, this region that we share.”
Across the world, Peter Kyle has blamed the previous Conservative government for eroding the UK’s resilience to both cyberattacks and future pandemics. “National resilience suffered terribly, catastrophically,” he said. “The previous government’s open warfare prevented any kind of progress in these areas and left our country desperately exposed not only to a future pandemic, but also to cybersecurity issues.”
His comments followed a warning from the National Cyber Security Centre that the UK was falling behind the capabilities of countries launching state-sponsored attacks on the UK's critical infrastructure.
A new Cyber Security and Resilience Bill is due to be introduced in the UK Parliament, alongside the Artificial Intelligence Bill announced during the King's Speech.
