US Democrats say spy agencies must update approach to China

US House Democrats said on Wednesday that American intelligence agencies have failed to adapt to the growing threat posed by China. They have also warned Washington would be unable to compete with Beijing in the future without significant changes.

This comes amid campaigning for the November 3 election, in which dealings with China have been the most important foreign policy issue for Republican President Donald Trump and his Democratic challenger, former Vice President Joe Biden, as well as congressional candidates.

A report released by Democrats on the House of Representatives Intelligence Committee - chaired by Representative Adam Schiff - called for a full review of intelligence gathering, saying spy agencies had come to treat traditional intelligence missions as secondary to counterterrorism.

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The report said the unfolding of the coronavirus pandemic after it began in China showed the need to better understand Chinese decision-making, including at the provincial level, and that the intelligence community had paid insufficient attention to "soft" security threats, such as infectious diseases.

"The stakes are high," a redacted version of the report said. "If the IC (intelligence community) does not accurately characterize and contextualize Beijing's intent, America's leaders will fail to understand the factors that motivate Chinese decision-making."

Separately, a House Republican "China Task Force" led by Foreign Affairs Committee ranking member Michael McCaul released its report calling for more than 400 changes in US strategy, including shifting supply chains from China and a trade agreement with Taiwan.

The Democratic intelligence report said Washington should strengthen its ability to "disrupt and deter" Chinese influence operations, and called for a bipartisan congressional study to evaluate intelligence.

It called for a broadening of programs to mentor the next generation of China analysts and said agencies should consider "reskilling" programs for those working in counterterrorism.

The Republican report criticised decades of US policy toward China for focussing on economic issues and disregarding rights violations and security threats.