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An inside look at the ecosystem of hacking contests in China.
The Chinese Capture the Flag (CTF) competition ecosystem is considered one of the most developed in the world, uniting hundreds of teams annually. On the basis of such a system, national and industry competitions are held, which attract the attention of both students and professionals in the field of cybersecurity. Government support actively stimulates the development of such activities, which turns China into a leader in the training of cybersecurity specialists.
From 45 to 56 such competitions are held annually in the country, and 129 unique events have been identified for the entire time, 54 of which are repeated every year. Hundreds and even tens of thousands of people participate in the competition, as was the case with the Wangding Cup organized by the Ministry of Public Security, where the number of participants exceeded 35,000 people.
Competitions cover both national and industry levels, from medical and industrial competitions to competitions held by the armed forces. Government departments such as the Ministry of Education, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Academy of Sciences play a key role in the development of competitions. Each of them supports one or more significant events at the national level, which contributes not only to the identification of talents, but also to the development of advanced technologies.
The Wangding Cup program demonstrates how competitions can become a tool for selecting specialists for government needs. The winners of such events are included in national cyber talent databases, which makes it easier to attract them to public and private structures. In addition to recruiting, the competition also serves as a platform to share knowledge and test new approaches in an environment that simulates real-world threats.
In addition to state events, private initiatives are actively developing in the country. An important element of the ecosystem is the XCTF League, Asia's largest hacker league, which annually brings together teams from all over the world, bringing together both domestic and international competitions.
Some competitions, such as RealWorldCTF, not only attract foreign participants to China, but also serve as a platform for establishing international contacts, including through private events such as GeekCon, which are held outside of China. This emphasizes the country's desire to develop international cooperation and attract foreign specialists.
Some events, such as the Zhujian Cup, are held in strict secrecy. Participants in such competitions, as a rule, are prohibited from disclosing the details of the competition, and are also obliged to remove all traces of their activities after completion. Such measures underscore the importance of competitions for national security and their possible use for intelligence purposes.
State support for such competitions is explained by China's desire to become a cyber power. The policy aimed at strengthening the talent pool and creating innovative solutions has been reflected in legislative initiatives in recent years. In particular, since 2018, a policy has been in place that regulates participation in international esports competitions and stimulates events within the country. This policy also requires participants to report vulnerabilities to government agencies, which strengthens control over information security.
The example of China can become a benchmark for other countries. While a direct copy of the Chinese model is unlikely to be effective for a particular country, developed countries should consider the importance of such activities for training specialists and promoting innovation in the field of cybersecurity.
Source
The Chinese Capture the Flag (CTF) competition ecosystem is considered one of the most developed in the world, uniting hundreds of teams annually. On the basis of such a system, national and industry competitions are held, which attract the attention of both students and professionals in the field of cybersecurity. Government support actively stimulates the development of such activities, which turns China into a leader in the training of cybersecurity specialists.
From 45 to 56 such competitions are held annually in the country, and 129 unique events have been identified for the entire time, 54 of which are repeated every year. Hundreds and even tens of thousands of people participate in the competition, as was the case with the Wangding Cup organized by the Ministry of Public Security, where the number of participants exceeded 35,000 people.
Competitions cover both national and industry levels, from medical and industrial competitions to competitions held by the armed forces. Government departments such as the Ministry of Education, the Cyberspace Administration of China and the Academy of Sciences play a key role in the development of competitions. Each of them supports one or more significant events at the national level, which contributes not only to the identification of talents, but also to the development of advanced technologies.
The Wangding Cup program demonstrates how competitions can become a tool for selecting specialists for government needs. The winners of such events are included in national cyber talent databases, which makes it easier to attract them to public and private structures. In addition to recruiting, the competition also serves as a platform to share knowledge and test new approaches in an environment that simulates real-world threats.
In addition to state events, private initiatives are actively developing in the country. An important element of the ecosystem is the XCTF League, Asia's largest hacker league, which annually brings together teams from all over the world, bringing together both domestic and international competitions.
Some competitions, such as RealWorldCTF, not only attract foreign participants to China, but also serve as a platform for establishing international contacts, including through private events such as GeekCon, which are held outside of China. This emphasizes the country's desire to develop international cooperation and attract foreign specialists.
Some events, such as the Zhujian Cup, are held in strict secrecy. Participants in such competitions, as a rule, are prohibited from disclosing the details of the competition, and are also obliged to remove all traces of their activities after completion. Such measures underscore the importance of competitions for national security and their possible use for intelligence purposes.
State support for such competitions is explained by China's desire to become a cyber power. The policy aimed at strengthening the talent pool and creating innovative solutions has been reflected in legislative initiatives in recent years. In particular, since 2018, a policy has been in place that regulates participation in international esports competitions and stimulates events within the country. This policy also requires participants to report vulnerabilities to government agencies, which strengthens control over information security.
The example of China can become a benchmark for other countries. While a direct copy of the Chinese model is unlikely to be effective for a particular country, developed countries should consider the importance of such activities for training specialists and promoting innovation in the field of cybersecurity.
Source