The Russia-Ukraine war has lasted for months and could last for years. At the beginning of the war, many Western politicians and media reports claimed that “The world is united against Russian invasion”, which soon turned out to be a fallacy. As many commentators in the West now acknowledge, in terms of condemning and sanctioning Russia, it is largely The West vs. The Rest. This divide reflects the geopolitical tensions of the world and casts an ominous cloud over the direction of the war, given that both sides have their military and/or economic support from other countries.

Global standards for critical and emerging digital technologies (CETs, such as 5G and AI) will play an increasingly crucial role in the adoption and governance of these technologies. In recent years, many countries/regions such as the US, China, and the EU have laid down standards strategies or industry policies, aiming to maintain or pursue global leadership in international standards-setting for CETs. Among them, China has stepped up its efforts in participating in the negotiation of global technology standards since around 2015.