The head of the US intelligence services, John Ratcliffe, assessed today that China is "the biggest threat to democracy and freedom in the world since the Second World War", while Washington tightens the issuance of visas to members of the Chinese Communist Party.
In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Ratcliffe also condemned China's theft of American trade secrets and defense technologies.
"The People's Republic of China is the greatest threat to America today and the greatest threat to democracy and freedom in the world since World War II," wrote the head of US intelligence.
He also described operations in which Chinese agents used economic pressure to influence or compromise US lawmakers.
"Chinese leaders seek to subordinate individual rights to the will of the Communist Party," Ratcliffe said.
At the same time, the US State Department announced that members of the Chinese Communist Party were "hostile to American values".
Under the new rules, which take effect immediately, visas issued to Chinese party members and their families will be valid for only one month after issuance and for one entry, while previously they were valid for up to 10 years and allowed an unlimited number of entries to the US.
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