Dr David Gordon is Senior Adviser for Geo-economics and Strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He is a former US diplomat and intelligence official, and served as director of policy planning at the US State Department under then-secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. His work focuses on the intersection of security, economics and strategy.Meia Nouwens is Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Her expertise lies in Chinese cross-service defence analysis, China’s defence industry and innovation, as well as China’s regional strategic affairs and international relations. She leads IISS research on China’s Digital Silk Road and the institute’s wider China portfolio.

• Introduction 1. China’s investment in digital technologies and the Digital Great Game 2. Locating the Digital Silk Road in the Belt and Road Initiative 3. Identifying the Digital Silk Road 4. The Digital Silk Road and the evolving role of Chinese technology companies 5. The Digital Silk Road and China’s grand strategic ambition 6. The Digital Silk Road and normative values 7. Balancing prosperity and security along the Digital Silk Road Conclusion Appendix

‘This groundbreaking work combines the best available expertise with detailed datasets to illuminate the complex phenomenon that is China’s Digital Silk Road. The understanding it offers is critically important at a time of growing East–West geopolitical and technological competition.’Nigel Inkster, IISS Senior Adviser for Cyber Security and China; former Assistant Chief, Secret Intelligence Service (UK)

Dr David Gordon is Senior Adviser for Geo-economics and Strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He is a former US diplomat and intelligence official, and served as director of policy planning at the US State Department under then-secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. His work focuses on the intersection of security, economics and strategy.Meia Nouwens is Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Her expertise lies in Chinese cross-service defence analysis, China’s defence industry and innovation, as well as China’s regional strategic affairs and international relations. She leads IISS research on China’s Digital Silk Road and the institute’s wider China portfolio.

• Introduction 1. China’s investment in digital technologies and the Digital Great Game 2. Locating the Digital Silk Road in the Belt and Road Initiative 3. Identifying the Digital Silk Road 4. The Digital Silk Road and the evolving role of Chinese technology companies 5. The Digital Silk Road and China’s grand strategic ambition 6. The Digital Silk Road and normative values 7. Balancing prosperity and security along the Digital Silk Road Conclusion Appendix

‘This groundbreaking work combines the best available expertise with detailed datasets to illuminate the complex phenomenon that is China’s Digital Silk Road. The understanding it offers is critically important at a time of growing East–West geopolitical and technological competition.’Nigel Inkster, IISS Senior Adviser for Cyber Security and China; former Assistant Chief, Secret Intelligence Service (UK)

Dr David Gordon is Senior Adviser for Geo-economics and Strategy at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. He is a former US diplomat and intelligence official, and served as director of policy planning at the US State Department under then-secretary of state Condoleezza Rice. His work focuses on the intersection of security, economics and strategy.Meia Nouwens is Senior Fellow for Chinese Defence Policy and Military Modernisation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Her expertise lies in Chinese cross-service defence analysis, China’s defence industry and innovation, as well as China’s regional strategic affairs and international relations. She leads IISS research on China’s Digital Silk Road and the institute’s wider China portfolio.

• Introduction 1. China’s investment in digital technologies and the Digital Great Game 2. Locating the Digital Silk Road in the Belt and Road Initiative 3. Identifying the Digital Silk Road 4. The Digital Silk Road and the evolving role of Chinese technology companies 5. The Digital Silk Road and China’s grand strategic ambition 6. The Digital Silk Road and normative values 7. Balancing prosperity and security along the Digital Silk Road Conclusion Appendix

‘This groundbreaking work combines the best available expertise with detailed datasets to illuminate the complex phenomenon that is China’s Digital Silk Road. The understanding it offers is critically important at a time of growing East–West geopolitical and technological competition.’Nigel Inkster, IISS Senior Adviser for Cyber Security and China; former Assistant Chief, Secret Intelligence Service (UK)