A top US intelligence official has warned against an increase in China’s efforts to influence the incoming administration of President-elect Joe Biden. William Evanina, from the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, said that China would now redirect its influence campaigns to the new administration, adding the Chinese were also focusing on people close to Biden and those close to officials in his new administration.
This comes following reports of alleged Chinese meddling in the recently-concluded US elections, which saw both candidates shower accusations at each other of being Beijing’s stooge. While Trump accused his rival’s son Hunter Biden of operating illegitimate businesses in China, Biden called out the president for having a Chinese Bank account. The United States intelligence community had warned prior to the election that China is trying hard to influence the election result. The US has also accused China of trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research by targeting American firms since the beginning of the outbreak.