17 minutes agoO'Brien: China wants Trump to lose the election
Periskopi(6 years ago)
(6 years ago)The hackers linked to the Chinese government are attacking US election infrastructure before the 2020 presidential elections, White House National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien said today, warning more alleged Chinese interventions in the November elections. The statement goes beyond the statement issued by the Community Director's Office [...]
The statement goes beyond the statement issued by the National Intelligence Community Director's Office (ODNI) on Friday, which said China was expanding its efforts to influence and that Russia was already trying to undermine the democrat candidate Joe Biden's campaign. But ODNI does not directly accuse Beijing of trying to break down systems linked to US elections.
“They would like the president to lose”, O'Brien said of the Face the Nation show of CBS.
“Kina, like Russia, like Iran, is dealing with cyber attacks and theft of network identity and things similar to that related to our electoral infrastructure, internet sites and such things,” he added
China has staunchly rejected the US government's accusations of punishing businesses, politicians and government agencies.
The US presidential elections are internal issues and we have no interest in interfering,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang in April.
O'Brien said the United States found that hackers were trying to penetrate websites belonging to state secretary's offices throughout the country, which are responsible for holding local elections and collecting data for Americans.
“It's really a cause for concern and it's not just Russia. There will be serious consequences for any country trying to intervene in our free and fair elections,” he said.
The National Security Council has not yet responded to a request for comment on the claims.
The ODNI refused to comment or explain whether this declaration contradicts their statement.
The ODNI has said earlier that <x0-enemy” are trying to compromise the private communications of American political candidates and infiltrate American election systems ahead of the presidential elections. He also argued that China would like President Donald Trump not to be re-elected.
Several American intelligence investigations have come to the conclusion that Russia was working to support Trump's 2016 campaign and minimize his opponent's prospects, Hillary Clinton.
