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China actively trying to interfere in US election, national security adviser says
- Robert O’Brien said Beijing has the biggest programme to influence domestic politics
- He called the scope of Chinese activity ‘relentless’
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China has taken the most active role among countries seeking to interfere in the US election and has the biggest programme to influence domestic politics, national security adviser Robert O’Brien said on Friday, without providing any details.
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“We know the Chinese have taken the most active role,” O’Brien told reporters at a briefing.
He said China “had the most massive programme to influence the United States politically”, followed by Iran and then Russia.
US intelligence found that Russia orchestrated a cyber campaign to sway the 2016 presidential election in Republican Donald Trump’s favour and there have been reports hackers may try to influence the election on November 3.
Moscow has denied interfering in 2016.
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“We’ve made it very clear to the Chinese, to the Russians, to the Iranians and others that haven’t been publicly disclosed that anyone … that attempts to interfere with the American elections will face extraordinary consequences,” O’Brien said.
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