While China is becoming an increasingly rich target for both tactical and strategic cyber attacks, the use of cyber operations are likely to be high escalatory, complicated by differing conceptions of deterrence and crisis management; opaque political control of cyber forces; and an expansive view of competition in cyberspace. Yet neither the United States nor China will eschew the use of offensive cyber operations so the two sides will want to consider how to prevent escalation from tactical to strategic attacks through dialogue and confidence building measures.