China, not Russia a greater threat to US: Mike Pompeo

A highly centralised and n-transparent Chinese government which is aggressive in its military posture with its ecomic strength and treats intellectual property and religious mirities horribly, poses a far greater threat to US than Russia, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday.

He also said that China presents a myri of opportunities, but lots of challenges. 

world's two largest ecomies are engd in a tre war. US is due to impose punitive tariffs on USD 200 billion in Chinese goods on Monday, bringing total to USD 250 billion, on top of separate duties on steel and aluminum from around globe. 

China has retaliated on USD 110 billion in goods, majority of all its imports from US.

"Russia, under Vlimir Putin, remains a bully. We need to push back and constrain m where we can. But longer term, if you're looking at things that threaten American livelihoods, that put America truly at risk of its continued ecomic growth, China presents far greater threat to US," Pompeo told Fox News in an interview.

"This is a n-transparent government. It is still a very centralised government. It treats our intellectual property horribly, it treats its religious mirities horribly," he said.

In each of se cases, he said, US has opportunities. This is what President Donald Trump has been doing with tre, to try and make it fair and reciprocal. 

"What we're asking of China is to behave in a way that if y want to be a power, if y want to be on global st, y have to operate in a way that global leers have for so often," he said.

Pompeo expressed his deep disappointment over top American companies compromising with ir basics in order to continue with ir business in China. 

"It gets at core problem that President Trump is trying to dress, which is that China doesn't permit US investors to invest on same terms that Chinese companies can invest here, joint ventures. 

" list is long of n-reciprocal relationship. President's trying to balance that. And when we get that right, when government gets that right, we can n force American companies to behave under that set of rules," he said.

Responding to a question on allegation of Russian meddling into US elections, Pompeo said that Russia has been aggressive and tried to meddle in American election. 

When Trump ministration came to power, Pompeo said it found that China h vanced during previous eight years dramatically throughout South and East China Seas.  

"I did have a chance to meet with some of Philippine leership today and share with m our concerns. I think y share m as well. y understand, as do all of countries of Souast Asia  y'd much rar deal with a United States and t be a vassal state for any or country," he said.