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

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.

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“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.