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OTTAWA – Defence Minister Peter MacKay says he has laid down clear “markers” in talks in Beijing on how to curb cyberattacks originating in China.

MacKay became the first Western defence minister to hold talks with China’s new defence minister, Gen. Chang Wanquan, on his home turf.

MacKay told his counterpart today that Canada expects China to establish a greater rapport with other countries and play by a “rules-based framework” on the Internet.

MacKay delivered his message just days before cybersecurity rears its head at a historic summit at a California resort between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping.

MacKay’s visit came two days after Chuck Hagel, his U.S. counterpart, issued a stern public warning to China about cyberattacks during a large security symposium in Singapore.

MacKay, now NATO’s longest-serving defence minister, will report back on his China discussion to his 27 counterparts in the alliance when they meet Tuesday in Brussels.

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