Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe published an opinion article in the Wall Street Journal suggesting that China represents “the greatest threat to America today.” The article accuses Chinese firms and agents of stealing engaging in economic espionage and attempting to influence lawmakers, and calls for a continued shift of budget and other intelligence resources to focus on China. A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson rejected the comments and criticized the article as “false information.”
More context: The comments come amid escalating tensions between the US and China, including a series of sanctions this year, a controversial Hong Kong national security law, ongoing trade tensions, and a proposed ban on TikTok and WeChat.
Extra: Read the full article here (paywall).
The New Paper
This story is from the December 4, 2020 edition of The New Paper – a clear, concise daily briefing that makes fact-first news easy to consume. Try it today.
