The Volt Typhoon cyberattacks underscore the escalating tensions between China and the U.S. in cyberspace, with both nations deepening mutual distrust that risks spiraling into broader conflict. To prevent further deterioration, the U.S. and China must engage in dialogue, establish international cybersecurity frameworks, and cooperate on managing cyber threats, ensuring that neither side becomes the winner of a destructive cyber or AI-driven war.

For China and the United States, virtually all technology eventually touches on cybersecurity. But cooperation, based on trust, can be achieved. Trust is the basis of any cooperative relationship. Without it, concrete initiatives are incredibly difficult to implement.

In little more than a generation, the Internet has become a vital substrate for economic, social, and political interactions, and it has unlocked enormous gains. Along with greater interdependence, however, come vulnerability and conflict. Attacks by states and non-state actors have increased, threatening the stability of cyberspace.

Data flows and other high-tech issues come to the fore as officials pursue agreement.

Although Moore’s law about the doubling of computing power every two years means that cyber time moves quickly, human habits, norms, and state practices change more slowly.