[Text/Observer Network Liu Qian]
On May 7th local time, CIA Director of the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA ) William Burns (William Burns) claimed that China felt a little "unsettled" about the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, which included economic uncertainty and interference to the Taiwan issue. However, he also said that China's firm determination to resolve the Taiwan issue has not changed, and that China remains the "bigest geopolitical challenge" that the United States has long faced.
Screenshot of the Financial Times report
William Burns made this speech when he participated in the Financial Times media event held in Washington on the 7th.
In his speech, he claimed that they were shocked. China showed a little "uneasiness" about the impact of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. On the one hand, it was worried about the economic uncertainty caused by the conflict, and on the other hand, it was worried that the incident would cause damage to China's reputation.
He also believes that " Putin's action brings Europeans closer to Americans", claiming that this makes China feel a little "frustrated".
Burns pointed out that China is currently carefully studying what experience the Russian-Ukrainian conflict can provide for resolving the Taiwan issue. He said Russia's actions and encounters will cause some interference to China, but China's firm determination to resolve the Taiwan issue will not be changed.
He believes that China is the biggest geopolitical challenge the United States will face in the long term, although Russia under Putin cannot be underestimated. "(Putin) shows in a very disturbing way that the declined great powers are at least as destructive as the rising great powers."
Burns's rhetoric compares the Ukrainian crisis to the Taiwan issue, but China has long emphasized that the two are completely incomparable.
On May 6, HanMinister of the Chinese Foreign Ministry , said when attending the "Online Dialogue of 20 Think Tanks in the Global 20 Countries" that the Taiwan issue is not comparable to the Ukrainian issue. He pointed out that one-China principle is a consensus of the international community, Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and Taiwan issue is China's internal affairs. Some people emphasize respect for a country's sovereignty and territorial integrity on the Ukraine issue, but openly stepping on the "one China" red line on the Taiwan issue, which is a complete "double standard".
On April 15th, local time, Washington, D.C. Photo from Reuters
Finally, Burns also mentioned the issue of Ukrainian intelligence assistance.
Recently, US media have frequently disclosed the "multiple results" of the US intelligence agencies in Ukraine, from providing intelligence to the Ukrainian army to assist in killing several Russian generals, to helping Ukraine sink "Moscow" , etc. US President Biden html warned intelligence and defense officials on the 36th that they should not disclose information about "US-U.S. and Ukraine" as these leaks have played a "counter-effect".
Burns also said on the 7th that it is dangerous for people to say too much, whether it is private disclosure or publicly talking about these intelligence issues. "This is irresponsible and very dangerous."
He also said that underestimating Ukraine's own intelligence capabilities would be "a big mistake." "This is their country. They have more information than we do, and they can get more intelligence than the United States and our allies."
On the 7th local time, the British " Guardian " reported that some former US intelligence officials have hurriedly suggested that their current successors should "shut up" and stop bragging about their role in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, because such "unwise intelligence boasts" may trigger the escalation of the coronavirus.
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