Candidate for CIA chief pledges to focus U.S. intelligence efforts on China
CIA nominee John Ratcliffe pledged that under his leadership, U.S. intelligence would focus on threats from China.
"This brings me to the need for the CIA to continue and intensify its focus on threats from China and the Chinese Communist Party ruling there," he said Jan. 15 during a Senate hearing broadcast by C-SPAN.
Ratcliffe assessed that the U.S. is currently facing the most challenging national security environment in history. Among the problems for Washington he named the conflict in Ukraine, as well as Iran's actions in the Middle East and the activity of the DPRK.
He also promised that as CIA director he would advise U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on opportunities to cooperate with Russia when it would be mutually beneficial.
Ratcliffe expressed the view that the United States cannot allow its hostile relations to "degenerate into unintended wars." At the same time, he pointed out that the situation in Ukraine increases the risk for the United States to be drawn into a conflict with a nuclear power.
The fact that Ratcliffe was selected as a candidate to head the CIA under the Trump administration was announced in November.
The day before, FBI Director Christopher Wray accused China of introducing malware into US civilian infrastructure. According to him, energy networks, telecommunications, gas pipeline systems and power generation were affected.
Before that, on January 5, the Financial Times wrote that Chinese leader Xi Jinping's strategy toward the Trump administration is defined by clarity and determination. Experts predict that it will consist of creating various measures and restrictions to harm American companies, adaptation and expansion of economic ties.
