Shaping Cyber Security 2024: “China’s Cyber Challenge ” Strategic Competition in the Digital Age

17 June 2024

The Shaping Cybersecurity Conference 2024, co-organized by the German Federal Foreign Office (AA), the Institute for Peace Research and Security Policy (IFSH) and the Digital Society Institute (DSI) at ESMT Berlin, will bring together experts to discuss the challenges posed by China's cyber operations and technological ambitions. The disruptive potential of China's vision for a global Internet, driven by geopolitical interests, challenges the fundamental values of openness, security and interoperability. China's extensive cyber operations underscore the urgency for countries to strengthen their cyber defenses amid heightened geopolitical tensions.

The conference will explore three main themes: enhancing cybersecurity and national resilience against Chinese cyber threats, countering China's challenge to the international legal order, and addressing the digital consequences of geopolitical tensions. The conference consists of two high-level panels and three thematic break-out tracks that will assess security risks, explore collective remedies at the multilateral and national levels, and address specific issues related to prevention, capacity building, emergency assistance, and international law. The first panel focuses on China's goals and capabilities in cyberspace, the role of Chinese tech companies, and China's vision for the future of the international order. Experts will discuss China’s broader technological ambitions and digital strategy. The second panel analyzes the challenges posed by China's international cyber operations and espionage, assessing risks for European technological capabilities and secure digital transformation.

Following the panels, three simultaneous break-out tracks will dive into policy responses and solutions. Track A will focus on enhancing cybersecurity and national resilience against Chinese cyber threats. Track B will address strategies to counter China's challenge to the multilateral system and seek cooperation in areas like Internet Governance and AI. Track C will center on resilience against the digital consequences of geopolitical tensions, especially in the Taiwan Strait. Experts and participants will discuss potential diplomatic, political, and technological responses interactively. In the final panel, the solutions and ideas developed during the break-out tracks will be consolidated and discussed, with a focus on identifying practical steps that democratic governments and societies must take to counter these challenges.

Joining the discussion will be

for the Welcome Address:

Günter Sautter, Director-General for International Order, the United Nations and Arms Control, Federal Foreign Office, Germany

for the Keynote perspectives:

Brett Solomon, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Access Now, Australia
James Appathurai, Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid and Cyber, NATO, Canada
Friederike Dahns, Director-General Cyber and Information Security, Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, Germany

for Panel I:

Rogier Creemers, Lecturer in Modern Chinese Studies, Leiden University, Netherlands
Eleanor Rees, Deputy Cyber Director, FCDO, United Kingdom
Antonia Hmaidi, Senior Analyst Mercator Institute for China Studies, Germany
Zoe Hawkins, Technology Policy Specialist, TechPol Design Center, Australia
James Lewis, Senior Vice President and Director of Strategic Technologies Program, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), USA

for Panel II:

David Mussington, Executive Assistant Director for Infrastructure Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA, USA
Dirk Häger, Director-General Operative Cyber Security, Federal Office for Information Security (BSI), Germany
Chris A. Demchak, Professor, Strategic and Operational Research Department, U.S. Naval War College, USA
Dag Baehr, Vice President, Foreign Intelligence Service of Germany (BND), Germany
Jo M., Director Secure Technology, NCSC (tbc.)

for Workshop Track A:

Caroline Agsten, Threat Context Lead for China, Microsoft, USA
Käspar Kivisoo, Käsper Kivisoo, Deputy Director of CERT, National Cyber Security Centre-EE
Angela Sasse, Head of Chair Human-Centered Security, Ruhr Universität Bochum, Germany
Israel C. Soong, Director, East Asia Pacific Cyber Policy, National Security Council - White House, USA (tbc.)

for Workshop Track B:

Carl Frederik Wettermark, Internet and Development Advisor, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sweden
Leonard Rolland, Deputy Director of Cybersecurity, Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs, France
Nadine Godehardt, German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), Germany
Alicia Romano, Senior Advisor, Office of China Coordination, Department of State, USA

for Workshop Track C:

Joyce Hakmeh, Deputy Director International Security, Chatham House, United Kingdom
Sergej Epp, CISO Central Europe, Palo Alto Networks, Germany
Andrew Seiffert, Senior Council for Infrastructure Security, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA, USA
Teo Ling, Deputy Director, RSIS Cyber Group, Singapore

Moderating this event will be Melinda Crane.

The in-person event takes place on June 17, 2024 from 9:00 to 17:30 followed by a reception at ESMT Berlin, Schloßplatz 1, 10178 Berlin, Germany. Registrations begin at 8:30. The event follows the Chatham House rule, involving stakeholders from academia, government, industry, civil society, and the military.

Registrations to this event are possible pending approval via registration link.