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| Director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center William Evanina. ((Photo by=REUTERS/Joshua Roberts) |
[아시아뉴스통신=레악카나 기자] The top US counterintelligence official on Friday (Aug 7) warned that Russia, China and Iran will all try to interfere in the 2020 presidential election, with Russia already trying to undercut presumptive Democratic candidate Joe Biden.
In an unusual public statement, William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, said those countries were using online disinformation and other means to try to influence voters, stir up disorder and undermine American voters' confidence in the democratic process.
"We assess that China prefers that President Trump whom Beijing sees as unpredictable - does not win re-election," said Evanina. "China has expanded its influence efforts ahead of November 2020 to shape the policy environment in the United States, pressure political figures it views as opposed to China's interests, and deflect and counter criticism of China."
He pointed to China's criticism of Trump's handling of the coronavirus epidemic, of the US closure of China's Houston consulate, and of the US administration's stances on Chinese actions in Hong Kong and the South China Sea. Foreign adversaries also may try to interfere with US election systems by trying to sabotage the voting process, stealing election data, or calling into question the validity of election results.
