Advertisement
US-China relations
USDiplomacy

Trump intelligence pick to play ‘helpful’ role in agreeing economic strategy with China

Jay Clayton says US can still work together ‘on the world stage economically’ with Beijing despite the geopolitical challenges they face

3-MIN READ3-MIN
Listen
Jay Clayton testifies during a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing on his nomination to be the Director of National Intelligence in Washington on Wednesday. Photo: AFP
Lucy Quagginin New York
The United States’ nominee for director of national intelligence told lawmakers on Wednesday he could be “extremely helpful” in shaping economic strategy with China during a confirmation hearing that framed Beijing as a leading economic and geopolitical challenge.

Jay Clayton, the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan, appeared before the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on his nomination, where he was questioned on several key intelligence issues.

When pressed on the top three threats to America today, Clayton listed terrorism, then drug trafficking, fentanyl and cartels, adding “lastly, I would say our traditional adversaries”, which he identified as Russia, China, and Iran.

Later in the hearing, lawmakers pushed back on the perceived ranking of Clayton’s threat assessment, stressing the importance of China as a geopolitical threat.

01:56
‘A milestone visit’: Xi and Trump set sights on stability for China-US relations

“One, I strongly disagree with you about the issue of drug trafficking being more important at this point than the threat of China or Russia,” said Mark Warner, a Democratic senator from Virginia, with Clayton quickly clarifying he did not rank the threats in order.

Advertisement
Select Voice
Select Speed
1.00x