WASHINGTON: China is using the strategy of giving credit and loans tocountries across the world to become a global power with great influence, atop US intelligence official has said.
Daniel R Coats, Director of National Intelligence, told members of theSenate Armed Services Committee during a Congressional hearing said Chinawas using a number of techniques that are far more than just the typicalmilitary land grab to increase its influence.
“While China is modernising its military, is increasing its spending, mostof it appears to be done for a deterrence purpose, rather than anaggressive purpose.
They clearly have a strategy of using credit and loans to countries aroundthe world, particularly in geo-strategic places, then combining it withsome military capacity — South China Sea’s — their new base in Djibouti,”Coats said.
“We see that China is seeking, I think, to become a world power with greatinfluence on a global basis.
And they’re using a number of techniques that are far more than just thetypical military land grab that we see more likely with Russia, rather thanChina,” Coats said.
He was responding to a question from Senator Angus King on the intelligencecommunity’s assessment of what China wants.
“Are they moving toward military aggression and enlargement of theirterritory? Or are they looking more toward political and economic influencein the region?” he asked.
“It appears to be the latter,” Coats said.