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Nation’s top national security experts warn of growing threats from China, Russia

WASHINGTON D.C. — The nation’s top national security experts warned Congress Thursday about growing threats from China and Russia.

Those dangers could impact Americans here at home.

From the Russian invasion of Ukraine to Chinese spy balloons caught over the US, the worldwide threat landscape has changed.

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On Thursday, members of Congress heard about the risks it poses to all of our communities.

“Is this the most dangerous and complex threat environment since World War II?” Director of Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. General Scott Berrier asked. “Senator, I believe it is when you consider the advances in technology, the provision of weapons, the globalization information. The rise of China.”

The Director of National Intelligence, Avril Haines, said that the threat from China is among the biggest safety concerns.

Haines testified that the Chinese Communist Party, known as the CCP, is expanding its military and nuclear arsenal and is aiming to surpass the US economically.

“What is perhaps most concerning is that the CCP is increasingly convinced that it can only fulfill Xi’s vision at the expense of U.S. power and influence,” Haines said.

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Security experts warn countries like China and Russia are working to divide the US from its allies, painting the United States as the root cause of many of the world’s problems.

In many cases, they’re using emerging technology for these dangerous messages.

“China and Russia are seeking to incorporate advanced technologies to erode our U.S. technological advantage,” Berrier said.

There is a push in Congress to ban the popular Chinese-run social media platform Tik-Tok because of national security concerns about how China is using that data.

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