Bridging the Cyber Gap: Bilateral Cyber Relationships in the South China Sea

In the last decade, China has increased its asymmetric approach to dealing with territorial disputes in the South China Sea, especially within the cyber domain. The United States is rightly concerned about China's increased cyber-attacks against Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with whom China harbors territorial disputes. The United States must develop effective bilateral cybersecurity coordination with three of the most influential nations in the region to counter China's provocative actions or risk further deterioration of United States influence. First, China is aggressively increasing its attacks against competing nations in the South China Sea. Second, ASEAN has limitations as a regional cyber leader, rendering them ineffective in this domain on a timeline of relevance. Third, the United States must invest in bilateral cyber relationships with Singapore, Vietnam, and the Philippines to counter China's malign activities in the South China Sea and protect United States interests in the region. Therefore, to secure the global commons and ensure freedom of navigation through cyber, the United States military should immediately invest in bilateral cyber relationships to ensure an increase in resiliency against Chinese tactics, to grow emerging relationships in cyber, and ultimately deter China from its continued predatory actions in the South China Sea.