Okay, we’re going to take a few questions. In addition, the systems of private companies are frequently hacked to learn trade secrets that could give private parties or government-affiliated agencies in foreign countries a technical advantage. In April, Obama signed a decree giving the United States government the right to sanction suspected cyber-criminals with financial and travel restrictions. Or what do you still need to see?
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Xi’s meeting with business leaders saw distinct interest from leadership of companies in the country, including from Google and Facebook that have limited, if any access to the Chinese market.
China and the USA have been at odds in recent years over the role of military-backed exercises in cyberspace during peacetime. “I indicated that it has to stop”, said President Obama. With respect to cyber, this has been a serious discussion between myself and President Xi since we first met in Sunnylands. “And we will be watching carefully to make an assessment as to whether progress has been made in this area”, Obama said at Friday’s press conference. “We honor the ties between our nations and our people”, he said.
On Thursday, the White House said it was considering economic sanctions against Chinese individuals and entities claiming they have profited from hacks of U.S. networks. And they’re not unique to China. “There are a range of tools that are at the president’s disposal to respond to those concerns”.
A White House release Friday said Obama and Xi “reaffirm their shared conviction that climate change is one of the greatest threats facing humanity and that their two countries have a critical role to play in addressing it”. From the west coast to the east coast, what strikes me most is that the American people have a lot of goodwill towards the Chinese people.
He stressed to Xi that preventing journalists, lawyers, NGOs and civil society groups from operating freely, or closing churches and denying ethnic minorities equal treatment are all “problematic”.
“I think that some cyber arms control treaties would be desirable”.
PRESIDENT XI: (As interpreted.) Madam reporter has raised the cybersecurity issue. The United States, with allies and partners in the region looking at it to intercede, will have to decide how far it wants to push China on this issue.
Obama said the disputes must be settled in accordance with global statutes, noting: ‘I encouraged a resolution between claimants in these areas.
Overall, the United States is the strongest country in terms of cyber strength. We have more than 600 million of netizens.
“Confrontation and friction are not the right choice for both sides”, Xi said, speaking through an interpreter. China also said it will commit $3.1 billion to help developing countries reduce carbon emissions.
Ahead of Xi’s visit to Washington, the USA administration had been preparing economic sanctions in retaliation for Chinese cybertheft. “But where they do intersect, we’ve had some progress”.
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On human rights, long a divisive issue between the US and China, Xi made no commitments, saying only that countries must have the right “to choose their own development independently”.
