By insisting on protocols that enable cross-national interoperability in a world that lacks trust, the concept aims to break the grip of a handful of American tech giants while offering a chance for open-source systems to reestablish the sovereignty of all.

China is on the cutting-edge of information technology, providing consumer electronics and telecommunications equipment to much of the world. Its own digital infrastructure is due for a modest upgrade that will be rolled out by 2023.

Can cooperation on big data technology help improve Sino-U.S. relations? Yu Xiang examines this emerging sector and describes how cooperation on this issue could reduce tensions in other areas, like cyber-espionage.