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China is trying to 'win without fighting': US military 'kept up at night' by Beijing's open checkbook and global expansion, while spies fear American universities are being infiltrated
American military and intelligence officials are growing increasingly concerned about China's expanding global influence which they say is being fueled by its 'weaponizing of capital'.
In testimony before Congress on Wednesday, the top commanders of the United States Navy and the Marine Corps told lawmakers that Beijing's 'open checkbook' is 'keeping them up at night.'
They said the Asian giant is buying up more land and growing in power without firing a shot, enabling it to 'win without fighting.'
'When it comes to China, the bottom line there is the checkbook,' Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer told legislators on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, according to The Hill.
'Not only in the dollars and cents that they are writing to support their military expansion and their technological work, but what they're doing around the globe ... weaponizing capital.'
Spencer was referring to a recent deal in which Chinese companies paid $1.12billion for controlling interest in a deep-sea port, Hambantota, in Sri Lanka.
The deal has raised concerns, particularly in countries such as India and the US who are known to be worried that such a foothold could give it a military naval advantage in the Indian Ocean.
'Their open checkbook keeps me up at night,' Spencer said.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller also told lawmakers at the hearing that China is 'playing the long game.'
'Their concern with human rights is not there, they've got big bags of cash. They're buying airfields and ports to extend their reach ... they want to win without fighting,' Neller said.
The Marine Corps commandant said that while China is using money to extend its reach, Russia is building up its military.
The Russians, I think, are a little more in your face,' Neller said.
'I don't think they want to fight us, personally, but I think they want to be able to impose their will and use intimidation.'
In addition to military concerns over China's growing clout, the CIA is also worried that the Chinese are targeting American college campuses to gain influence over what is taught to students.
Last month, the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the agency was investigating dozens of Confucius Institutes on scores of college campuses nationwide.
The Confucius Institute is a Chinese-backed cultural and language center that US intelligence officials fear can be exploited as a tool to spy on Americans.
Wray said that China has been 'exploiting the very open research and development environment that we have.'
US spy agencies are particularly worried about Confucius Institutes on 13 campuses, among them Arizona State, Auburn, Purdue, Stanford, and the University of Washington.
These colleges also host top secret Pentagon research facilities that US authorities worry are targeted by Chinese agents.
China's foreign minister sought Thursday to downplay concerns about Beijing's global ambitions, while also hinting at consequences for countries that don't fall in line on issues like Taiwan.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ht-Chinas-global-expansion.html#ixzz59CE1OIf6
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
- American military and intelligence are increasingly concerned about China
- Navy and Marine Corps commanders told Congress that Beijing's 'open checkbook' is 'keeping them up at night'
- US is worried about a recent deal in which Chinese companies paid $1.12billion for controlling interest in a deep-sea port, Hambantota, in Sri Lanka
- There is also concern that Chinese spies are trying to infiltrate American college campuses through Confucius Institutes
American military and intelligence officials are growing increasingly concerned about China's expanding global influence which they say is being fueled by its 'weaponizing of capital'.
In testimony before Congress on Wednesday, the top commanders of the United States Navy and the Marine Corps told lawmakers that Beijing's 'open checkbook' is 'keeping them up at night.'
They said the Asian giant is buying up more land and growing in power without firing a shot, enabling it to 'win without fighting.'
'When it comes to China, the bottom line there is the checkbook,' Navy Secretary Richard V. Spencer told legislators on the House Appropriations defense subcommittee, according to The Hill.
'Not only in the dollars and cents that they are writing to support their military expansion and their technological work, but what they're doing around the globe ... weaponizing capital.'
Spencer was referring to a recent deal in which Chinese companies paid $1.12billion for controlling interest in a deep-sea port, Hambantota, in Sri Lanka.
The deal has raised concerns, particularly in countries such as India and the US who are known to be worried that such a foothold could give it a military naval advantage in the Indian Ocean.
'Their open checkbook keeps me up at night,' Spencer said.
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller also told lawmakers at the hearing that China is 'playing the long game.'
'Their concern with human rights is not there, they've got big bags of cash. They're buying airfields and ports to extend their reach ... they want to win without fighting,' Neller said.
The Marine Corps commandant said that while China is using money to extend its reach, Russia is building up its military.
The Russians, I think, are a little more in your face,' Neller said.
'I don't think they want to fight us, personally, but I think they want to be able to impose their will and use intimidation.'
In addition to military concerns over China's growing clout, the CIA is also worried that the Chinese are targeting American college campuses to gain influence over what is taught to students.
Last month, the director of the FBI, Christopher Wray, told the Senate Intelligence Committee that the agency was investigating dozens of Confucius Institutes on scores of college campuses nationwide.
The Confucius Institute is a Chinese-backed cultural and language center that US intelligence officials fear can be exploited as a tool to spy on Americans.
Wray said that China has been 'exploiting the very open research and development environment that we have.'
US spy agencies are particularly worried about Confucius Institutes on 13 campuses, among them Arizona State, Auburn, Purdue, Stanford, and the University of Washington.
These colleges also host top secret Pentagon research facilities that US authorities worry are targeted by Chinese agents.
China's foreign minister sought Thursday to downplay concerns about Beijing's global ambitions, while also hinting at consequences for countries that don't fall in line on issues like Taiwan.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ht-Chinas-global-expansion.html#ixzz59CE1OIf6
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
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