China sees red after US Intel chief's comments, says Ratcliffe 'continues to repeat lies'

China on Thursday hit back at United States after US Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe dubbed country as "greatest threat to America". Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying called it a "hodgepodge of lies" saying it is ar move by United States to discredit China by playing up Chinese threat. Hua Chunying, during a regular press conference, also accused US of engaging in "Cold War mentality". 

"I think this is yet ar hodgepodge of lies that US government has been cooking up lately," Hua Chunying said in a press conference on Friday. 

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'Greatest threat to America'

John Ratcliffe, in an opinion piece published in Wall Street Journal on Thursday, had called China "greatest threat" to US democracy and or free nations across world since World War II. Ratcliffe accused China of using its resources to influence lawmakers in United States. Ratcliffe's remark follows similar comments by officials in US intelligence community and top politicians in Trump administration. 

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William Evanina, from US Office of Director of National Intelligence, on Thursday, warned that China would w re-direct campaigns to incoming Biden administration, adding Chinese were also focusing on people close to President-elect and those close to officials in his new administration. 

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United States intelligence community had warned prior to election that China is trying hard to influence election result. US has also accused China of trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine research by carrying out cyberattacks targeting American firms since beginning of outbreak. Friday's exchange is latest war of words between two most powerful ecomies in world, whose relations have been strained in past couple of years, especially since Trump took over and launched a trade war against Communist State. 

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