Australia concerned about offensive cyber warfare capabilities build up in Indo-Pacific

Expressing concerns around ‘cyber warfare’ capabilities in the Indo-Pacific region and countries not being mindful of the international order on “offensive” use of cyber capabilities for warfare, Australia’s visiting Cyber Ambassador Dr Tobias Feakin, in an exclusive interview to ET online, urged that there should be a clear conversation around use of “offensive cyber capabilities” in the Indo-Pacific region.
Dr Feakin, who has been the country’s inaugural Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and leads Australia's whole‑of‑government international engagement to advance and protect Australia's national security, foreign policy, economic and trade, and development interests in the internet and in cyberspace, told ET online, “It's very important especially in a region like Indo-Pacific, that if countries are developing offensive cyber capabilities that can be used in the times of warfare, then they are also thinking about what might be the premises around which they do or don’t use them.”

Hinting at China, Dr Feakin said, “Worst case scenario is that once you have no issues with other countries developing offensive cyber capabilities, and the they start utilizing them without any mindfulness to the international law and norms. So, for us it’s important that we are as transparent as we can be and also be sure that there is a clear conversation in Indo-Pacific around the use of “offensive” cyber capabilities," he added.

"Australia has essentially developed “offensive” cyber capabilities, doctrine and strategy around that for military use. We do that in a proportionate manner which is in respect of international law and norms,” Feakin added.

The Chinese White Paper on “China’s National Defense in the New Era”, talks about being driven by a new round of technological and industrial revolution, the “application of cutting-edge technologies” such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum information, big data, cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT).

“There is a prevailing trend to develop long-range precision, intelligent, stealthy or unmanned weaponry and equipment. War is evolving in form towards informationized warfare, and intelligent warfare is on the horizon,” points the July 2019 White Paper.

Feakin responded to Chinese White Paper saying, “With respect to the specific element (China) we have no issue with any country developing a cyber military component, it’s another tool in the military tool kit as long as it’s done with a mindfulness of international law and norms. So, we don’t have any specific issue with a country developing cyber military capability but it’s more about the way that is supplied and used… as long as it is as per international law and norms that’s what we are concerned about.”

He had also pointed out that there is an enormous rise in the number of cyber-crimes over the last five years and the reason for that is the ease with which the current internet regime allows for individuals to engage in cyber intrusions. He also said that a growing economy serves as a lucrative business opportunity for a cyber-criminal to exploit, and it should thus be a priority for any economy to put a robust infrastructure in place to combat cyber threats and cyber terrorists effectively.

The Chinese defence whitepaper also talks about the PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF), which is a new type of combat force for safeguarding national security and an important driver for the growth of new combat capabilities. “It comprises supporting forces for battlefield environment, information, communications, information security, and new technology testing.” In line with the strategic requirements of integrating existing systems and aligning civil and military endeavors, the PLASSF is seeking to achieve big development strides in key areas and accelerate the integrated development of new-type combat forces, so as to build a strong and modernized strategic support force.

Dr Feaking also added that the application of machine learning and AI to the large datasets presently available will revolutionise the World Order. They will change the way we look at critical issues such as labor and employment.

While India is yet to begin the trials on 5G and the controversial company Huawei’s India fate is yet to be decided, Australia had been the first country to point out the vulnerabilities around the Chinese flagship company.

Feakin pointed how Australia made its decision on 5G which was both “country agnostic and vendor agnostic” and was made on a sound risk-analysis basis.

"We do occasionally get requests to share the information of that decision and we are happy to share information (with India). It’s not advocating and it’s a sovereign decision for India to take,” he said.

He added that Australia took the decision against Huawei based on, “technical evidence, risk analysis and essentially the country’s political risk appetite.”

Foreign diplomatic sources told ET Online that with India’s profile rising and New Delhi being engaged in matters beyond South Asia, India is playing an important role in the Indo-Pacific.

Quoting India in his first public address, the new Chinese Ambassador to India, Sun Weidong said, “The rise of emerging economies represented by China and India has changed the international landscape and increased the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs.”