China Wages Cold War Seeking to Replace US as Main Power - CIA Official

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - China is trying to replace the United States as a global dominant power and is pursuing a cold war against Washington, CIA Deputy Assistant Director Michael Collins said at the Aspen Security Forum.

"The Chinese fundamentally seek to replace the United States as leading power in the world," Collins said on Friday. "What they are waging against us is fundamentally a Cold War."

Collins explained that by Cold War he means China using all avenues of power, including illicit ones, to undermine the standing of the United States as its main rival.

A rising China wants every country in the world to side with them, not with the United States, when it comes to important policy decisions, Collins said.

However, Collins pointed out that China does not want to pursue a kinetic war with the United States.

The CIA official said China is rising and pursues the current a policy "under this leadership, under this communist party," referring to the country's President Xi Jinping.

Collins emphasized that the Chinese government under Xi’s leadership has been increasing its ambitions around the world to compete with the United States and undermine Washington’s influence in other countries.

Moreover, Collins expressed concern about China's media influence, economic pressure and also political and other interference over Americans.

Earlier on Friday, US President Donald Trump said he was ready to impose tariffs on all imports from China following several rounds of tariffs on various goods.