Amidst all of the noise about mail-in ballots and stolen elections the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) has named China as currently the greatest threat to the November vote.

DNI John Ratcliffe recently told Fox News that China poses “a greater national security threat” to the United States “than any other nation,” detailing a web of threats that includes “election influence and interference.”

Intelligence officials say they are increasingly concerned about interference in the U.S. election by China.

While Russia was widely seen as favoring now-President Trump and generally seeking to sow chaos in America during the 2016 election, the difference with China is it seems to be seeking a Trump loss in November. Which is probably why, Democrats like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff — who ever since 2016 have issued dire warnings about Russian meddling — have not been quite so vocal about China’s potential to interfere in the 2020 election.

Last week, Pelosi said that the threats of interference from Russia and China are “not equivalent,” while urging the intelligence community to put out more information about Russian efforts, saying Moscow is “actively 24/7 interfering in our election.”

However, Ratcliffe said the threat from China is actually quite significant, and he is “committing the IC resources needed to fully understand the threat posed by China and provide U.S. policymakers with the best intelligence to counter China’s broad and deep malign activities.”

He added, “China is concerned that President Trump’s reelection would lead to a continuation of policies that they perceive to be ‘anti-China.’” He went on to note that the intelligence community has briefed “hundreds of members of Congress” to raise their concerns about China “and its increased efforts to impact the U.S. policy climate in its favor.”

The intelligence community has acknowledged that Russia’s meddling, as well as Iran’s remains a threat in 2020, but specifically mentioned China’s efforts, which an official within the intelligence community told Fox News has been ramping up in the last several months, citing rhetoric between the U.S. and China.

China Favors Joe Biden

Beijing believes it will receive more favorable treatment from a President Biden, than the current President Trump, who continues to blame China for the Coronavirus. During recent briefings and out on the campaign trail, Trump deliberately and repeatedly refers to the COVID-19 pandemic to have been caused by the “China Virus.”

Tension between the two countries have been mounting. Last month, the Trump administration moved to close the Chinese consulate in Houston, Texas, partially because of the Chinese Communist Party’s targeting of U.S. energy firms.

Later the same day, China ordered the closure of the U.S. consulate in the western city of Chengdu in Sichuan Province, in apparent retaliation.

By Mike F. Strong

What do you think? Who is the greater threat to the US right now, Russia or China? Please reply using the comments below.