China presents most comprehensive and robust threat to US security: DNI report

New Delhi: China “presents the most comprehensive and robust military threat to US national security” and is the top threat to American interests globally, said a report released by the US director of national intelligence (DNI) on Tuesday.

The report presents “collective insights” of top US intel agencies into the security threats to the US posed by foreign states and criminal organisations, including non-state actors.

“The intelligence community, or IC, assesses that China is our most capable strategic competitor. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, the People’s Republic of China seeks to position itself as a leading power on the world stage, economically, technologically and militarily,” DNI Tulsi Gabbard said at a Senate Select Committee on Intelligence hearing for the Annual Threat Assessment of the US intelligence community. “Beijing is driven in part by a belief that Washington is pursuing a broad effort to contain China’s rise and undermine CCP rule.”

“China’s military is fielding advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, advanced submarines, stronger space and cyber warfare assets, and a larger arsenal of nuclear weapons.”