Cyberspace is a world of inter-connectivity and convergence of interests. In terms of ensuring the security, equality, freedom and development of cyberspace, China shares the same goals with all other countries and aims to prevent abuses that interfere with those goals.

Mr. Ling is now the focus of political intrigue that could overshadow a visit to the U.S. in September by China's leader, Xi Jinping. Diplomats and analysts said Mr. Ling might have had access through this brother to sensitive information about Chinese leaders.

Those who have some knowledge of the Western legal system in general, and the American system in particular, can quickly tell that Beijing is using the wrong approach to repatriating its fugitives hiding in countries with which China has no extradition treaty.

Those who seek refuge in the US have been a thorn in Sino-American relations, and progress on a treaty replacing the case-by-case handling of such issues would be a welcome breakthrough when the leaders of the two countries meet next month. A current case linked to the corruption probe of a family member, however, shows how complicated the issue can be, and transparent handling would help set bilateral ties on a more predictable path.

Despite no public statements made by the U.S. government, China has been implicated in a recent hack of the U.S. Office for Personnel Management. It has spurred a debate on information security, differences between economic espionage and cold war espionage, and the overall bilateral relationship.

U.S. companies and leaders have criticized China’s new counter-terrorism law for its increased surveillance mechanisms. Yet, the U.S. government cannot claim the moral high ground when it blatantly violates the rights enshrined in its own constitution. A serious challenge to state surveillance will not come from other states; it must arise from China’s own citizenry.

The first state sponsored World Internet Conference was recently held in Wuzhen, China. Its main goal was to reinforce the idea of Internet sovereignty for individual nations, which has been decried by the U.S. as a veiled attempt to impose China’s state-centric approach to Internet governance to the wider world.

American officials have criticized rightly China’s surveillance tactics but the US is fast losing all credibility to criticize China for any of its domestic and international surveillance activities, writes Steven Hill.

The “Snowden Incident” has harmed United States standing in the international community in three ways: weakened US soft power, complicated game theory among the world’s four leading powers, and proved the danger of web-based non-state entities.

The United States is racing for the technological frontier in military and intelligence uses of cyber space. It is ahead of all others, and has mobilized massive non-military assets and private contractors in that effort.