“Predatory attitude”: strong attack on China by future CIA chief Joe Biden

WASHINGTON.- The candidate of the American president Joe biden be director of the CIA, William burns, said this Wednesday before Intelligence Committee Senate that China is greatest threat to America and promised to guarantee the independence of the spy agency from the political world.

“Beating China will be the key for our national security in the decades to come, ”said Burns, who said the Chinese government’s“ predatory ”attitude represents the“ greatest geopolitical challenge ”for the United States in an“ increasingly international scenario ”. complex and competitive.

Pending Senate confirmation, Burns, 64, will likely get the post of director of the Central Intelligence Agency. He has already been confirmed by the Senate five times for his positions as Ambassador to Jordan and Russia and three other senior posts in the State Department.

In his statement, the candidate warned that the Chinese regime “methodically strengthens its ability to steal intellectual property, suppresses its people, harasses its neighbors, extends its power in the world and builds its influence in American society.”

Overtaking China “will require a long-term, lucid and bipartisan strategy, underpinned by national renewal and strong intelligence,” he said, noting that the use of artificial intelligence This will be the key to your mission. He also advocated for Mandarin speaking recruiting officers.

He highlighted other big threats to the country: Russia, which he described as “aggressive”, and Iran, which he called “hostile”.

“It’s always a mistake to underestimate Vladimir Putin’s Russia“He warned, recalling his years as US Ambassador to Moscow between 2005 and 2008.” Although in many ways Russia is a declining power, it can be so worrying, ”he said.

As for Iran, he said the United States should “do everything possible to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon”. The diplomat promoted dialogue with Iran which enabled the agreement on the 2015 nuclear program. Currently, the country threatens to enrich itself with 60% uranium.

Burns is also looking restore the agency’s independence, arguing that “politics must stop where intelligence work begins”. “I learned that intelligence professionals have to tell politicians what they need to hear, even when they don’t want to hear it,” after Donald Trump’s critics accused him of wanting to politicize the CIA.

AFP and Reuters agencies

THE NATION

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