All countries will establish "cyber territory" in the future and work to defend their "cyber sovereignty," said Yan Baoping, director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Computer Network Information Center and a National People's Congress (NPC) deputy, during the ongoing annual session of China's top legislature in Beijing.

Yan Baoping, director of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) Computer Network Information Center and a National People's Congress (NPC) deputy,has appealed to the government to establish a "cyber territory" and defend "cyber sovereignty."[Photo/China.org.cn]

According to Yan, a passionate advocate of establishing China's cyber defense system, the founding of the Central Internet Security and Informatization Work Group by the central government last month was just in time. It indicates that the government regards the two endeavors as a national strategy and is closely watching the progress of the Internet.

"It's no longer suitable for a government to treat it [the Internet] as merely a medium or technology," Yan said. As a renowned network expert, she has witnessed the Internet's great change from a network for the use of scientific research to a booming industry that has great market potential and close relations with other industries.

However, the evolution of the Internet has also brought about security concerns and changed people's understanding of safety. Protecting personal data has become an important issue. "All countries should be aware of cyber security and defend the cyberspace as sovereign territory," Yan said. "It's impossible for a country to allow anyone to access its cyberspace freely and acquire any data they want."

When the Central Internet Security and Informatization Leading Group was founded, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to strengthen China's Internet security and build the nation into a strong cyber power, but according to Yan, what the government has done is far from enough, and more efforts should be made to develop technologies and maintain the healthy and stable development of the Internet. China cannot afford to lag behind again, she warned.

The Chinese government has attached great importance to the Internet, and more measures to manage and promote the Internet are expected.