US intelligence chief calls China the ‘leading and most consequential threat’ to the US

Top US intelligence officials called China the United States’ “most serious rival” at an annual hearing of the US Senate Intelligence Committee on March 8, 2023. A global threat assessment report, presented by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and other officials at the hearing, focused largely on China and Russia. The report said China intends to boost its presence in the disputed South China Sea and alleged it is “providing assistance” to Russia.