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Under President Donald Trump, the United States has escalated the confrontation with China in several areas
John Ratcliffe, the director of US National Intelligence, said China represents “the greatest threat to democracy and freedom” since World War II.
Ratcliffe added, in a “Wall Street Journal” article, that China intended to consolidate its power by stealing American secrets and then began to replace American companies in the markets.
The administration of US President Donald Trump has taken a hard-line stance toward China, imposing customs duties on Chinese goods and accusing Beijing of stealing intellectual property rights.
There was no immediate comment from China on Ratcliffe’s statement, but Beijing has responded vigorously to previous actions by the United States against him.
Ratcliffe warned that Beijing is preparing for a confrontation with the United States and wants to dominate the world “economically, militarily and technically.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and FBI Chief Christopher Wray made statements similar to some of Ratcliffe’s articles.
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Ratcliffe warned that Beijing wants to dominate the world “economically, militarily and technically.”
What did Ratcliffe say?
The US Director of National Intelligence has said that China has replaced Russia and counterterrorism as the focus of major US intelligence activities.
China has been involved in a form of “economic espionage” that Ratcliffe described as “theft, cloning and substitution.” He gave the example of a Chinese wind turbine company, which was found guilty in the United States of stealing technology from an American competitor before putting it up for sale worldwide, while the value of the American company’s shares plummeted. and its employees were fired.
He said that US $ 500 billion worth of intellectual property rights are stolen annually, and that the FBI’s arrest of Chinese nationals who steal investigations has become a recurring accident, with China also paying $ 50,000 a month. the head of the department of chemistry at Harvard University, who was arrested by authorities earlier this year. .
Ratcliffe accused Chinese intelligence of laying loopholes in technology provided by major Chinese tech companies like Huawei, and said allies using Chinese technology would not get American intelligence.
He said US intelligence information showed that China had conducted “human tests” of the forces to develop soldiers with “biologically enhanced capabilities.”
He added that China has engaged in a “massive influence campaign” targeting members of the United States Congress and their employees encouraging unions in large companies to demand that local politicians adopt a more flexible stance toward China or face loss. votes of union members.
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Relations between the two superpowers have been strained by the coronavirus pandemic
How did the Trump White House deal with China?
Under Trump, the United States has intensified its confrontation with China in several areas. The two countries each imposed tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars in import duties.
Earlier this year, the United States asked China to close its consulate in Houston due to concerns related to economic espionage, and Beijing responded with a request to the United States to close its consulate in Chengdu.
Relations between the two superpowers were strained due to the coronavirus pandemic, when Trump repeatedly referred to it as the “Chinese virus.”
The United States accused China of committing “horrible and systematic” human rights violations in its dealings with the Uighur Muslim minority in Xinjiang and imposed sanctions on some Chinese politicians.
China is accused of committing crimes against Uighurs and others, including mass arrests, religious persecution and forced sterilization of women to avoid motherhood, and Beijing denies any rape.
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Biden is likely to be more active in finding areas of cooperation with China
Will Biden take a different approach?
After taking office next January, US President-elect Joe Biden is expected to continue the policy of confronting China, but in cooperation with allies.
Tara McKelvey, a BBC White House correspondent, said there is a rare agreement between the parties on how to deal with China strictly on trade and other matters.
The Trump administration has garnered global support aimed at boycotting Chinese communications technology.
However, Biden is likely to be more active in seeking areas of cooperation with China, particularly in areas such as climate change.
