Senators highlight security threats from China during rare public hearing

The Senate Intelligence Committee held a rare public hearing Wednesday afternoon to stress increasing threats posed by China to U.S. national security, with one top senator describing the situation as a “horror-show.”

The threats, according to the officials, include Chinese counterintelligence activities such as cyberattacks against U.S. companies and critical organizations, malign influence, and stealing billions of dollars in U.S. intellectual property.

“The Intelligence Committee…doesn’t normally hold open hearings, but Vice Chairman [Marco] Rubio [R-Fla.] and I believe this story needs to get out to the American public,” Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) testified at a hearing on Chinese threats Wednesday.

Rubio also strongly stressed the need to confront China on its efforts to undermine the U.S., particularly on technological issues.

“The members of this committee on a regular basis review some of the most sensitive intelligence, both intelligence and the products that come from them, that this government has available to it,” Rubio testified. “So I think it should send a powerful message when you see that on issue after issue relating to China…that it is members of this committee that you see in the lead.”