China threat overblown by EU Cybersecurity Act

On Tuesday, March 12, Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) adopted the European Union (EU) Cybersecurity certification scheme for products, processes and services.The Cybersecurity Act is a scheme to ensure that certified products, processes and services sold in EU countries meet cybersecurity standards. MEPs also adopted a resolution calling for action at EU level on the alleged security threats linked to China's growing technological presence in the EU. As well, MEPs expressed their “deep concern” about recent allegations by the United States - where nuance and unilateralism often prevail - that 5G equipment may have embedded “backdoors” that would allow Chinese manufacturers and authorities to have unauthorized access to private and personal data and telecommunications in the EU. Inflated threats. The so-called “deep concern” expressed by MEPs is unwarranted and the new Cybersecurity Act is equally, if not more, alarming for China-EU trade and growth. MEP's threat misperception only heightens mistrust as China has no intention to lace the EU infrastructure with logic bombs. The costs of cyber espionage pale beside the mutual benefits of a China-EU interdependent economy.