Trump spy chief labels China biggest threat to freedom since World War Two

[webfact]

Trump spy chief labels China biggest threat to freedom since World War Two

By Mark Hosenball

 

FILE PHOTO: Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-TX, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 5, 2020. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The top U.S. intelligence official stepped up the Trump administration's harsh attacks on Beijing on Thursday by labeling China the biggest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War Two and saying it was bent on global domination.

 

"The intelligence is clear: Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily and technologically," Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said in an opinion article on the Wall Street Journal website.

 

Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman appointed by Trump to the top U.S. spy job last spring, said China posed "the greatest threat to America today, and the greatest threat to democracy and freedom world-wide since World War Two."

 

He said he had shifted resources within the $85 billion annual federal budget allocated to intelligence to increase the focus on China.

Ratcliffe said China's economic espionage approach was threefold: "Rob, Replicate and Replace."

 

He said the strategy was for Chinese entities to steal American companies' intellectual property, copy it and then supplant U.S. companies in the global market place.

 

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday that U.S. accusations of technology theft were "ludicrous."

 

Beijing has frequently called on U.S. leaders to dial back their rhetoric on China, which it blames on fear of China's growing role in the world.

 

Ratcliffe's Wall Street Journal essay was the latest broadside against China from President Donald Trump's administration as it seeks to cement the outgoing president's tough-on-China legacy.

 

It is an approach that has taken relations between the world's two largest economies to their lowest point in decades and analysts say it could limit the incoming Biden administration's room for maneuver in dealing with Beijing.

 

Ratcliffe alluded to reports collected by U.S. intelligence agencies that Chinese representatives have sought to interfere in U.S. domestic politics.

 

He also charged that China had stolen U.S. defense technology to fuel an aggressive military modernization plan launched by President Xi Jinping.

 

“The election is over. Now let’s all be honest about China,” he told Reuters after the article was published.

 

Among other issues, Washington and Beijing have clashed over China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, its tightening grip on Hong Kong, its disputed claims in the South China Sea, trade and accusations of human rights crimes in Xinjiang.

 

China said on Thursday that politicians in the United States are fabricating news of detained Uighur Muslims being forced into labor in the Xinjiang region.

 

Ratcliffe, who served only briefly on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee before Trump appointed him to his role, has been accused by Democrats and current and former intelligence officials of politicizing intelligence.

 

In his essay, Ratcliffe said Chinese authorities had "conducted human testing" on members of the Chinese army "in hopes of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities." He did not elaborate.

 

U.S.-based think tanks have reported that China is giving increasing importance to biotechnology in its military strategy but they have not released detailed reports about the kind of testing alleged by Ratcliffe.

 

On Thursday, the Trump administration restricted travel to the United States by members of China's ruling Communist Party and their families.

 

On Wednesday, the House passed a law to kick Chinese companies off U.S. stock exchanges if they do not fully comply with the country's auditing rules.

 

Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said Ratcliffe's comments were part of a campaign he has mounted against Beijing and appeared aimed at locking in a tough approach before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

 

"It does appear to part of a broader effort to tie Biden's hands and limit his room to maneuver on China policy," she said.

 

"In prior administrations, the norm has been to avoid taking such actions during a presidential transition, but the Trump administration has long set a pattern of bucking the norm."

 

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball and David Brunnstrom; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alexandra Hudson and Alistair Bell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-04

 

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[riclag]

John Ratcliffe a man of great vision !  The  Director of National Intel will be revered as a hero  in the coming weeks,months and years to come imop

Edited December 4, 2020 by riclag
txt

[placeholder]

Whatever the merits of Ratcliffe may be, and they are dubious to say the least, he has a boss who decided to go after China and the EU at the same time. If China really is the existential threat that the Trump administraton believes it to be, then it was really stupid to be waging economic warfare against our allies at the same time.

 EU seeks anti-China alliance on tech with Biden

Europe on Monday proposed teaming up with incoming U.S. President Joe Biden to squeeze China out of the global technology trade. 

Exhausted by four years of trade tensions on two fronts, fighting against both U.S. President Donald Trump on one flank and Beijing on the other, Europe is trying to seize an early initiative ahead of Biden’s inauguration on January 20 by rolling out geostrategic plans for closer transatlantic cooperation.

At a closed-door meeting to discuss Europe's strategy, Sabine Weyand, Brussels' top trade bureaucrat, told lawmakers from the European Parliament that the European Commission would propose a "Transatlantic Trade and Technology Council" to set joint standards on new technologies, according to two people in the room.

EU seeks anti-China alliance on tech with Biden – POLITICO

Edited December 4, 2020 by placeholder

[Tug]

I beg to differ Donald John trump is imo the greatest threat to freedom since ww2 with his inability to work within the confines of the constitution his continued attacks on our democracy his attempts to rig the election he is in a very powerful position and is doing great harm around the world no I disagree trump is a much more a threat short term 

[worgeordie]

When I was a young lad, a long time ago, my father said to me

it's not the Russians we need to worry about,it's the [Chinese]...

 

Looks like he was right they are using their economic clout as well as military power to expand their influence around the World.

 

regards worgeordie

Edited December 4, 2020 by onthedarkside
derogatory reference removed

[placeholder]

Beijing Takes Its South China Sea Strategy to the Himalayas

China built a village in territory also claimed by the kingdom of Bhutan, echoing its aggressive tactics at the border with India and in places much farther away.

Just in time for its National Day in October, China completed construction of a new village high in the mountains where the Chinese region of Tibet meets the kingdom of Bhutan. A hundred people moved into two dozen new homes beside the Torsa River and celebrated the holiday by raising China’s flag and singing the national anthem...

The problem is, these new “coordinates” are more than a mile inside what Bhutan considers its territory.

Beijing Takes Its South China Sea Strategy to the Himalayas - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

[OneMoreFarang]

spy chief labels Trump biggest threat to freedom since World War Two

 

I put the words in the right oder for you

[bendejo]

DT putting the squeeze on Xi for something, I wonder what it is...

 

 

[placeholder]

6 minutes ago, bendejo said:

DT putting the squeeze on Xi for something, I wonder what it is...

 

 

You think a statement from Ratcliffe carries any weight with Xi?

[fangless]

31 minutes ago, placeholder said:

You think a statement from Ratcliffe carries any weight with Xi?

You think a statement from Ratcliffe Trump carries any weight with Xi?

[Surelynot]

It is thanks to the total ineptitude of Trump and his administration that large parts of the world.....Africa in particular .....have been delivered on a plate to the Chinese.....MAGA...what a joke!

[Eric Loh]

7 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

It is thanks to the total ineptitude of Trump and his administration that large parts of the world.....Africa in particular .....have been delivered on a plate to the Chinese.....MAGA...what a joke!

The same ineptitude extend to Trump's withdrawal of the TPP and allowed China to consolidate their influence with the conclusion and signing of the RCEP with 15 Asia Pacific countries.  

[mtls2005]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

"The intelligence is clear

 

Trust, but verify.

 

 

ratcliffe is the trump's fifth DNI, if you included the "actings". He hasn't even earned any "trust".

 

 

Might be best if he finished his stint, facilitating the transition, and moved on. Or resigned.

 

Mouthing off at this time is uncalled for, and highly unprofessional, even for someone as inexperienced as this person.

 

 

 

[gunderhill]

You've got  one choice China to Dominate the world or The  U.S, who are you really going to choose.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, webfact said:

its tightening grip on Hong Kong, its disputed claims in the South China Sea, trade and accusations of human rights crimes in Xinjiang.

IMO it is clear that China cares nothing for human rights and is out to dominate the world.

If they openly break the agreement over Hong Kong, and build islands in disputed waters, IMO they are not to be trusted.

[Surelynot]

2 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO it is clear that China cares nothing for human rights and is out to dominate the world.

If they openly break the agreement over Hong Kong, and build islands in disputed waters, IMO they are not to be trusted.

Absolutely....no way on God's Earth are they to be trusted......Taiwan will be in the mix, The Silk Road will gobble up many other nations.....Thailand, Cambodia are subservient to the Chinese already.....African nations are seriously in debt to them.....IMO they have already won.......Trump pulled back from the World stage and they filled the vacuum.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, OneMoreFarang said:

spy chief labels Trump biggest threat to freedom since World War Two

 

I put the words in the right oder for you

Goodness me, I must have missed all those wars Trump started.

[Surelynot]

1 minute ago, Surelynot said:

Absolutely....no way on God's Earth are they to be trusted......Taiwan will be in the mix, The Silk Road will gobble up many other nations.....Thailand, Cambodia are subservient to the Chinese already.....African nations are seriously in debt to them.....IMO they have already won.......Trump pulled back from the World stage and they filled the vacuum.

In that sense Trump has been the biggest threat to world peace by abdicating all responsibility ....MAGA ....what a joke. MCGA.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 minutes ago, Surelynot said:

In that sense Trump has been the biggest threat to world peace by abdicating all responsibility ....MAGA ....what a joke. MCGA.

Soooooooo, what exactly could he have done that you would have approved of? Had he sent the navy to see off China in SEA waters I'm pretty sure the usual posters would be accusing him of being a war monger.

IMO it doesn't matter what Trump does as he will be attacked every which way regardless. I like that he put the US first, and stopped trying to be the world's policeman.

 

Anyway, we'll see if Biden can do any better without going to war.

[Eric Loh]

21 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO it is clear that China cares nothing for human rights and is out to dominate the world.

If they openly break the agreement over Hong Kong, and build islands in disputed waters, IMO they are not to be trusted.

Yeah human rights abuse. Happen everywhere.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/501922-us-faces-allegations-of-human-rights-abuses-over-treatment-of-protesters

[Surelynot]

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

and stopped trying to be the world's policeman.

Exactly.......

[Traubert]

31 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Soooooooo, what exactly could he have done that you would have approved of? Had he sent the navy to see off China in SEA waters I'm pretty sure the usual posters would be accusing him of being a war monger.

IMO it doesn't matter what Trump does as he will be attacked every which way regardless. I like that he put the US first, and stopped trying to be the world's policeman.

 

Anyway, we'll see if Biden can do any better without going to war.

He certainly didn't try to be the worlds doctor. You'd think that was one area he might have shown his 'expertise.'

Did he put the US first then? 2000 dead and 200K infected and that was only yesterday.

 

Insofar as China is concerned they have no need to steal. They are streets ahead.

 

Edited December 4, 2020 by Traubert

[Eric Loh]

2 minutes ago, Traubert said:

Did he put the US first then? 2000 dead and 200K infected and that was only yesterday

Think he meant to say "put him and his family first". ????

[ballpoint]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman appointed by Trump to the top U.S. spy job last spring, said China posed "the greatest threat to America today, and the greatest threat to democracy and freedom world-wide since World War Two."

Interesting how he separates "threat to America" and "threat to democracy". 

[placeholder]

2 hours ago, Eric Loh said:

Yeah human rights abuse. Happen everywhere.

https://thehill.com/policy/international/501922-us-faces-allegations-of-human-rights-abuses-over-treatment-of-protesters

Most countries are guilty of some degree of human rights violations. But few practice it to the degree that China does. And the USA has an independent judiciary whiçh frequently thwarts the executive branch. When was the last time a Chinese citizen got to openly criticize Xi and get away with it?

Edited December 4, 2020 by onthedarkside
name calling reference removed

[scorecard]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Trump spy chief labels China biggest threat to freedom since World War Two

By Mark Hosenball

 

FILE PHOTO: Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-TX, testifies before a Senate Intelligence Committee nomination hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 5, 2020. Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The top U.S. intelligence official stepped up the Trump administration's harsh attacks on Beijing on Thursday by labeling China the biggest threat to democracy and freedom worldwide since World War Two and saying it was bent on global domination.

 

"The intelligence is clear: Beijing intends to dominate the U.S. and the rest of the planet economically, militarily and technologically," Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe said in an opinion article on the Wall Street Journal website.

 

Ratcliffe, a former Republican congressman appointed by Trump to the top U.S. spy job last spring, said China posed "the greatest threat to America today, and the greatest threat to democracy and freedom world-wide since World War Two."

 

He said he had shifted resources within the $85 billion annual federal budget allocated to intelligence to increase the focus on China.

Ratcliffe said China's economic espionage approach was threefold: "Rob, Replicate and Replace."

 

He said the strategy was for Chinese entities to steal American companies' intellectual property, copy it and then supplant U.S. companies in the global market place.

 

Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Wednesday that U.S. accusations of technology theft were "ludicrous."

 

Beijing has frequently called on U.S. leaders to dial back their rhetoric on China, which it blames on fear of China's growing role in the world.

 

Ratcliffe's Wall Street Journal essay was the latest broadside against China from President Donald Trump's administration as it seeks to cement the outgoing president's tough-on-China legacy.

 

It is an approach that has taken relations between the world's two largest economies to their lowest point in decades and analysts say it could limit the incoming Biden administration's room for maneuver in dealing with Beijing.

 

Ratcliffe alluded to reports collected by U.S. intelligence agencies that Chinese representatives have sought to interfere in U.S. domestic politics.

 

He also charged that China had stolen U.S. defense technology to fuel an aggressive military modernization plan launched by President Xi Jinping.

 

“The election is over. Now let’s all be honest about China,” he told Reuters after the article was published.

 

Among other issues, Washington and Beijing have clashed over China's handling of the coronavirus outbreak, its tightening grip on Hong Kong, its disputed claims in the South China Sea, trade and accusations of human rights crimes in Xinjiang.

 

China said on Thursday that politicians in the United States are fabricating news of detained Uighur Muslims being forced into labor in the Xinjiang region.

 

Ratcliffe, who served only briefly on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee before Trump appointed him to his role, has been accused by Democrats and current and former intelligence officials of politicizing intelligence.

 

In his essay, Ratcliffe said Chinese authorities had "conducted human testing" on members of the Chinese army "in hopes of developing soldiers with biologically enhanced capabilities." He did not elaborate.

 

U.S.-based think tanks have reported that China is giving increasing importance to biotechnology in its military strategy but they have not released detailed reports about the kind of testing alleged by Ratcliffe.

 

On Thursday, the Trump administration restricted travel to the United States by members of China's ruling Communist Party and their families.

 

On Wednesday, the House passed a law to kick Chinese companies off U.S. stock exchanges if they do not fully comply with the country's auditing rules.

 

Bonnie Glaser, an Asia expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank, said Ratcliffe's comments were part of a campaign he has mounted against Beijing and appeared aimed at locking in a tough approach before President-elect Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20.

 

"It does appear to part of a broader effort to tie Biden's hands and limit his room to maneuver on China policy," she said.

 

"In prior administrations, the norm has been to avoid taking such actions during a presidential transition, but the Trump administration has long set a pattern of bucking the norm."

 

(Reporting by Mark Hosenball and David Brunnstrom; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Alexandra Hudson and Alistair Bell)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-04

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

"....and the greatest threat to democracy...."

 

No, trump is the biggest threat to democracy since forever.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, Surelynot said:

.Trump pulled back from the World stage and they filled the vacuum.

Who put the US in charge of the world? It's not the job of the US taxpayer to pay to occupy the "vacuum". The US has plenty of problems to sort before worrying about everywhere else, IMO.

[Eric Loh]

12 minutes ago, placeholder said:

Most countries are guilty of some degree of human rights violations. But few practice it to the degree that China does. And the USA has an independent judiciary whiçh frequently thwarts the executive branch. When was the last time a Chinese citizen got to openly criticize Pooh, I mean Xi, and get away with it?

Time will tell whether the recent China Central Committee invitation for UN to help address their human rights issues will improve the situation. UN has accepted the invitation to support China's initiatives. I can see that censorship of government criticism are much more tolerable especially on social media but the government is still very strict on collective expression; pretty obvious reasons. If China was to have global domination ambition, they must give their citizens a voice and improve their human rights record. 

[Surelynot]

9 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Who put the US in charge of the world? It's not the job of the US taxpayer to pay to occupy the "vacuum". The US has plenty of problems to sort before worrying about everywhere else, IMO.

I agree.....no one put the US in charge.....and you could easily argue it is not their job.......but now look at the consequences of their withdrawal........with power comes responsibility.........like it or not as the most powerful, "democratic" nation on earth they are the world's policeman.......maybe 'we' should all chip in and help?

[Surelynot]

Maybe they are just following Trump's (selfish) playbook.....make China great again....China first...you reap what you sow?

Edited December 4, 2020 by onthedarkside
quote of hidden post removed