China voices firm opposition to Japan's 'active cyber defense' measures

Beijing expressed firm opposition on Friday to Tokyo's dangerous move of adopting a strategy that enables "active cyber defense" measures, vowing to make resolute response to any improper move that undermines China's sovereignty, security and development interests.

The Japanese Cabinet on Tuesday adopted the government's new five-year cybersecurity strategy, with particular focus on preemptive "active cyber defense" measures to respond to the mounting risk of attack.

In May, Japan enacted a law introducing the so-called active cyber defense, which makes clear that the Japanese government will preemptively infiltrate and destroy the cyber devices of so-called threats.

The latest move represents a major policy shift of Japan from cyber defense to cyberattack, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

The Japanese side owes the international community an explanation if its move aims to once again break free from the international and domestic law and use self-defense as a pretext to preempt cyberattacks, Lin told a daily news conference.

China strongly urges Japan to abide by the pacifist Constitution and uphold existing international rules and order, he said.