US Intelligence Chief Nominee Sees China As Main Foe

President Donald Trump's pick to lead the US intelligence community has said that he would focus on China as the country's greatest threat, saying Beijing was determined to supplant the United States' superpower position.  

But John Ratcliffe, an outspoken Trump defender nominated to become director of national intelligence, came under pressure in a Senate confirmation hearing over whether he would politicise the intelligence process to keep the president happy.

It's the second time Ratcliffe has sought the crucial position – which has lacked a permanent office holder for nearly nine months – after he withdrew from consideration in August following questions over his experience and credentials.

"I view China as the greatest threat actor right now," Ratcliffe, a Republican congressman from Texas, told the Senate Intelligence Committee overnight on Tuesday.

"Look with respect to Covid-19 and the role China plays; the race to 5G; cybersecurity issues: all roads lead to China," he told the panel.

He cited China's geopolitical thrust through its "Belt and Road" global infrastructure initiative, its programmes to acquire strategic technologies quickly, and its "military-civil fusion initiative" that keeps the private sector beholden to government priorities.

"These are all spokes of the same initiative and that's for China to supplant us as the world's superpower."

Ratcliffe added: "We very clearly don't want an authoritarian regime like the Chinese Communist Party setting standards in the world marketplace."

Ratcliffe appeared before the first committee hearing held in Congress after a weeks-long hiatus forced by coronavirus.

The director of national intelligence job has been vacant since Dan Coats, who was regularly at odds with the president, left in August.

Trump then forced out other top intelligence officials who were, like Coats, seen as not politically loyal to the White House. (AFP)