In a joint address on Wednesday, 6 July, the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the leader of MI5, Britain’s domestic intelligence agency, warned of the Chinese government being determined to steal both agencies' technology for competitive gain.
"We consistently see that it’s the Chinese government that poses the biggest long-term threat to our economic and national security, and by ‘our’, I mean both of our nations, along with our allies in Europe and elsewhere," FBI Director Christopher Wray was quoted as saying by news agencies.
"Today is the first time the heads of the FBI and MI5 have shared a public platform. We're doing so to send the clearest signal we can on a massive shared challenge," MI5 Director General Ken McCallum added.
China has categorically rejected these allegations.
"The relevant US politician has been playing up the so-called China threat to smear and attack China. Facts have fully proven that the US is the biggest threat to world peace, stability and development," said Zhao Lijian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
"We urge this US official to have the right perspective, see China’s developments in an objective and reasonable manner and stop spreading lies and stop making irresponsible remarks," he added.
(With inputs from Reuters.)
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