China is engaged in a “asymmetric warfare” campaign in the United States aimed at influencing public opinion and weakening Americans’ faith in their institutions, former national security adviser John Bolton said.
“Chinese influence operations in this country and efforts to fragment us politically are definitely underestimated. I think we’re still learning a lot about it,” Bolton told host John Catsimatidis Sunday on WABC 770 AM’s “Cats Roundtable.”
“Some of them, like the Confucius Institutes at universities, are just propaganda centers. That is becoming more and more evident. We have to wake up to this threat. We haven’t been willing to see it,” Bolton, 74, said.
The American government and citizens are more aware of China’s efforts to economically undermine the United States by stealing economic property and intimidating allies, including Taiwan, he explained.
“But this attempt to influence our public opinion without anyone knowing they are doing it is much more insidious and, in the long run, more dangerous,” said Bolton, who served as White House national security adviser during the administration. of former President Donald Trump.
“Chinese influence operations… are definitely underestimated,” believes John Bolton.Getty Images
Bolton said the popularity of TikTok, the China-linked mobile video platform popular with more than one billion users worldwide and 150 million in the United States, according to the company, is a case in point.
“It’s like the story of the Pied Piper. The Chinese developed this. They have people almost hooked on it. And it’s something they can use to attract people later,” he said.
On rising tensions between the United States and China, Bolton said that while the United States remains “the dominant military power,” China’s strategy is to use “asymmetric warfare.”
Bolton warned that TikTok’s popularity is a perfect example of China’s efforts to undermine the US government and influence public opinion. AFP via Getty Images
Bolton said that while the United States remains “the dominant military power,” China’s strategy is to use “asymmetric warfare.”
“Participating in cyber attacks. Try to influence operations. Cut to weaken ourselves economically. Never confront each other militarily because they ultimately know what the outcome would be. But to weaken American resolve. Weaken faith in our institutions. And do it in different ways,” he said.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with PRC Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao last week in an effort to ease tensions between the two superpowers.
The relationship has been troubled, particularly after a Chinese spy balloon invaded US airspace earlier this year.
Categories: Trending
Source: vtt.edu.vn