Governing Cross-Border Data Flows: China’s Proposal and Practice

Abstract

Beijing’s quest for a more prominent role in a changing international order requires greater ability to shape global rules and norms in emerging strategic domains like cyberspace. Cross-border data flows, an important driving force behind the digital economy, give rise to growing concerns about potential threats to national security and individual privacy. In contrast with the Western approach that focuses on maximum data freedom, China’s proposal for cross-border data governance prioritizes security, order, and development. Contrary to outside expectations that Beijing’s restrictive data policies allow little room for international alignment on data security governance, China has shown sufficient flexibility and open-mindedness in major international initiatives for norm setting and institution building. Moreover, Beijing insists that as a global common, cyberspace should not become a new battlefield of great power competition, but instead help advance the shared interests of developing nations.