China Submits Internet Governance Position to UN, Urges Countries to Avoid Digital Hegemony and Coercive Alignment

China has submitted a position paper on global internet governance to the United Nations, urging countries to avoid digital hegemony and coercive alignment. The document, released by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on November 22, outlines three main proposals: adherence to the UN Charter's principles in cyberspace, including non-use of force and peaceful dispute resolution; respect for digital sovereignty and inclusive development, opposing forced alignment and technology monopolies; and upholding multilateralism, rejecting corporate or small-circle governance in place of state-led international governance. The paper addresses concerns over rising cyber conflicts, risks to critical infrastructure, and fragmentation of global digital supply chains. It implicitly criticizes the United States for pursuing digital hegemony and coercive policies. China positions itself as a developing nation and seeks to rally developing countries around its vision for a more equitable digital order.

Global Impact

Politically, the paper challenges the current US-led model of internet governance and could strengthen China's influence among developing nations in multilateral forums. Economically, it may accelerate the fragmentation of global digital markets into separate spheres, raising costs for cross-border data flows and technology trade.