Abstract
The ability to define international standards is a tool of both market and political influence. The purpose of “Made in China” is also the global power of Beijing. “The promoting international standardization, the first step is to study the previous rules established by international standardization itself. Know yourself and the enemy and you will win every battle."
Technological standards are the 'first move at chess' of China's global expansion. If we then link this concept to its immense economic power, David P. Goldman is right in saying that “lChina believes that power is the key to international affairs and that technology itself is power.” So, the ability to define international standards is a tool of both market and political influence. The goal: global power.
For years, Beijing has made significant efforts to shape global standards in emerging technologies, particularly in 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things, the “China Standards”. Their technical definition and control are important on a geostrategic level. From their “control” consumers, industry and national security depend on it.
The “China Standards” also constitute the essential technical connective tissue for the Belt and Road Initiative and the Digital Silk Road.
They also allow us to expand control over global information and communications technology (ICT). Combined with the standard requirements of military-civilian fusion, these strategies also pave the way for China to project its military power.
Beijing considers the national and international technical standardization campaign as a fundamental component of the strategy to achieve growth in the country economically and expand its geostrategic power.
In numerous speeches given by Xi Jinping between 2014 and 2016, it is stated that China can only be a leading nation if it becomes an international decision maker and standards are the “first move at chess” of global expansion.
The ability to define international standards, therefore, is a tool of both market and political influence. Beijing is making a push on the formation of standards in emerging technologies such as 5G and AI and this is likely to increase the offensive intelligence and cyber capabilities of the Chinese intelligence services and the People's Liberation Army, also in light of the military fusion law- civil.
Beijing also uses the Belt and Road as a lever of influence for standardization.
Beijing has also moved to introduce its own standards into bilateral agreements and the BRI. A 2018 policy briefing from the China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS) specifically promoted the inclusion of Chinese standards in international agreements. Notably, the 2018-2020 action plan provides for the integration of these rules into framework agreements for bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the fields of diplomacy, science and technology, trade and quality inspection. The briefing cites 45 cooperation documents signed with national and regional standards organizations from 32 countries.
The target regions and countries specified in the action plan include: Europe, Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), Northeast Asia, North America, Africa and Oceania. Furthermore, the plan aims to extend regional cooperation channels for standardization to countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Western Asia and the Middle East.
We have delved into a particular case study.
Authors: Nicola Iuvinale, Gabriele Iuvinale, ExtremaRatio, 2024.
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