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Question: Should cyberattacks be considered a legitimate strategic tool?
Answer: There is no simple "yes" or "no" answer to this question, but a complex debate involving international law, ethics, security and strategic balance. The following points can help understand the multi-dimensionality of this issue: 1. International law and legality disputes According to the UN Charter and international law, the unprovoked use of force is generally not allowed. Traditionally, the use of force between countries must comply with the principle of self-defense or be authorized by the Security Council. For cyber attacks, the international community has not yet formed a completely unified legal framework, especially when cyber attacks do not directly cause physical damage in the traditional sense, but may also have a profound impact on civilian infrastructure and economic activities, the definition of legality becomes unclear. 2. Comparison between cyber attacks and traditional warfare Cyber attacks can be seen as a means to achieve strategic goals in some cases. Compared with traditional combat methods, their concealment, low cost, difficulty in tracking and attribution, etc. make them sometimes considered to be a "low-cost" and "efficient" weapon. However, this "low cost" often also means a higher risk of loss of control - for example, misattribution may trigger unnecessary military conflicts, or cyber attacks may break through the original "tactical" boundaries and become a full-scale strategic conflict in the continuous escalation. 3. Strategic effects and risks From a strategic perspective, cyber attacks may cause significant damage to the enemy's command system, communication network or financial system in the short term, and as a means of deterrence and pressure, they have certain effects in some cases. But at the same time, it is often difficult to foresee the long-term consequences of cyber attacks, such as chain reactions that may affect innocent people and even undermine the foundation of global trust and international cooperation. In addition, since cyber attacks may become a reason for the enemy to retaliate or escalate conflicts, they must be used with great caution in practice. 4. Policy and ethical considerations On the one hand, some countries and security experts believe that cyber attacks can be regarded as a legitimate and necessary "soft" weapon in response to specific security threats, especially in the context of preventing the enemy from taking preemptive action or combating terrorism and cybercrime. On the other hand, there are also views that there are moral risks in incorporating cyber attacks into legitimate strategic means, because this may blur the boundaries between traditional wars and non-traditional conflicts, blur the criteria for triggering and escalating wars, and ultimately threaten the entire international order and humanitarian law principles. 5. Current international reality and future prospects In actual situations, most countries are still exploring how to strike a balance between legitimacy, strategic necessity and international stability. For example, while developing cyber defense strategies, many countries are also discussing internally under what conditions proactive or even offensive cyber actions can be taken. The international community is also trying to regulate this "emerging" field through bilateral or multilateral mechanisms, negotiations and rule-making. At present, it may be more in line with the consensus of most countries and international organizations to not overly regard it as a generally legitimate strategic means, but as an "exceptional" case under specific conditions and strict restrictions. In summary, whether cyber attacks should be regarded as legitimate strategic means depends on multiple factors: the framework of international law, the specific context of the situation, whether there is a clear need for self-defense, and how to balance the relationship between striking hostile targets and protecting civilians from harm. At this stage, this issue is still under debate. With the continuous development of international norms, clearer legal and policy guidance may emerge in the future, but at present, cyber attacks are more regarded as unconventional means under specific circumstances, strict constraints and international supervision.
Test date: 2025-02-21 ·
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