BIDEN'S CIA NOMINEE IDENTIFIES CHINA AS TOP 'ADVERSARY'
By Dave DeCamp, AntiWar.com.
February 26, 2021 | EDUCATE!
Above photo: Tom Williams/Getty Images.
William Burns Said China Poses The 'Biggest Geopolitical Test' For The US
During Senate Confirmation Hearings.
William Burns, Biden's pick for CIA chief, had tough words for China during
his Senate confirmation hearing and identified countering Beijing as a top
priority.
"Adversarial, predatory Chinese leadership poses our biggest geopolitical
test," Burns told the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday. He
described China as "a formidable, authoritarian adversary."
"Out-competing China will be key to our national security in the days
ahead," Burns said. For the CIA, he said this means "intensified focus and
urgency, continually strengthening its already impressive cadre of China
specialists, expanding its language skills, aligning personnel and resource
allocation for the long haul and employing a whole of agency approach."
Although he focused on China, Burns also mentioned Russia, urging the US not
to underestimate what he described as a "declining power."
Burns' tirade against Beijing seemed to please the Senate, and he is
expected to be easily confirmed. Throughout the confirmation process, Biden
nominees have been grilled on Beijing, and all had harsh words for China.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said the US should take an
"aggressive stance" against Beijing. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said
President Trump "was right in taking a tougher approach to China." Secretary
of Defense Lloyd Austin identified China as the "most significant threat" to
the US military.
Besides the rhetoric, the Biden administration has reshuffled the National
Security Council to focus on Asia, reducing the staff that works on Middle
East issues. The Pentagon is currently conducting a review of the US
military's posture in Asia and its overall China policy. The review is being
led by Ely Ratner, a China hawk who co-authored an op-ed last year titled
"Trump Has Been Weak on China, and Americans Have Paid the Price."
My Comment
And all these leftists wrote articles praising this appointee a few weeks
ago. Wy?
Miriam