DIRECTORS from top intelligence agencies representing the United States and the United Kingdom have come together to make a strong statement.
Statements show Western intelligence agencies are suspicious of potential cybercrime and spy operations orchestrated by China.
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“Today is the first time the heads of the FBI and MI5 have shared a public platform,” MI5 Director General Ken McCallum told reporters from the podium at MI5 headquarters in London.
“We’re doing this to send the clearest signal we can on a huge shared challenge: China.”
The joint action denounced activities in China that could negatively affect the global economy.
“We consistently see that it is the Chinese government that poses the greatest long-term threat to our economic and national security,” said FBI Director Christopher Wray.
Wray insisted that the Chinese are “determined to steal your technology, whatever it is that powers your industry, and use it to undermine your business and dominate your market.”
Chinese government leaders stationed there disputed McCallum and Wray’s allegations.
“We will never encourage, support or condone cyber attacks,” said Chinese embassy spokesman Liu Pengyu. Associated Press in a statement by e-mail.
“The relevant US politician has played out the so-called China threat to attack China. The facts have fully proved that the US poses the greatest threat to world peace, stability and development,” said Chinese diplomat Zhao Lijan.
Reporters urged FBI Director Wray on China’s military strategy and asked if he thought the conflict in Ukraine has opened a window for China to invade Taiwan.
“I have no reason to believe that their interest in Taiwan has diminished in any way,” Wray said.
Taiwan is recognized as a self-governing nation independent from China according to only 13 countries BBC†
Tawain’s proximity to an unfriendly global superpower and exciting self-government are comparable to the conditions prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier this year, President Biden told reporters that the United States is committed to a military response if China takes action against Taiwan.
“The idea that, that it” [Taiwan] can be taken by force, only taken by force, just isn’t, just isn’t appropriate. It will disrupt the entire region and be a new action similar to what happened in Ukraine,” President Biden said.
China is a formidable player in global diplomacy — the country’s economic power is second only to the United States, and President Xi employs aggressive surveillance strategies to wipe out dissenters.
FBI Director Wray said the Chinese may plan to “isolate their economy” as if preparing for economic sanctions similar to the embargoes used against Russia.
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