Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. Figure: Photo taken by China News Agency (file photo)
During Russia’s aggression once morest Ukraine, the massacre of a large number of civilians was criticized by the international community. The Chinese authorities still refuse to recognize Russia’s actions as aggression, nor condemn the Russian army’s atrocities of killing civilians. Although they claim to urge peace, they have repeatedly supported Russia. CIA director William Burns said today that Chinese President Xi Jinping was a “silent partner” in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggression once morest Ukraine.
Burns, who delivered his first public speech as CIA director today at the Georgia Institute of Technology, said China posed “the greatest challenge” and “the most profound test” the CIA has ever faced. It’s a more complex and competitive world, and the CIA “must reimagine how to compete successfully in this new era.”
Burns pointed to the immediate threat of renewed Russian aggression once morest Ukraine and the long-term problems of China’s ambitious leadership as the single most important geopolitical challenge of the 21st century. “A silent partner of Putin’s aggression, Xi Jinping’s China is our greatest challenge, and in many respects the most profound test the CIA has ever faced,” he warned, stressing that the People’s Republic of China was “the toughest competition to contend with.” opponent”.
In addition, Burns also warned: “Given that Putin and the entire core of Russian power may be in despair because of the military setbacks they have faced so far, none of us can ignore that they may resort to tactical nuclear weapons, or low-yield nuclear weapons. The threat posed by nuclear weapons.” This was Burns’ most widely public comment since Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine, underscoring concerns regarding the heightened risk of using nuclear weapons in the largest attack on a European country since 1945.
