China wants to conquer the democratically governed Taiwan.
FBI chief Christopher Wray believes that the country is already preparing for possible sanctions from the West.
Munich/London/Beijing – In a rare joint appearance, MI5 chief Ken McCallum and FBI chief Christopher Wray warned of a threat from China.
The government in Beijing is "the greatest long-term threat" to the economic and national security of Britain, the US and their allies in Europe and elsewhere in the world, Wray said in London, according to Reuters and CNN.
MI5 chief McCallum said his service had "more than doubled" its efforts to counter worrisome Chinese activity;
In addition, MI5 is conducting seven times as many investigations into China as in 2018.
FBI chief Wray accused China of interfering in US politics and thereby wanting to change the world order.
In the congressional elections in the US state of New York this year, Beijing tried to prevent a China-critical candidate.
According to Wray, China also wants to steal the technology of Western companies.
The government in Beijing "poses an even more serious threat to Western companies than many experienced businessmen realize."
Wray also meant hacker attacks that were carried out from China: The hacker program in the People's Republic is larger than that "of all larger countries combined," according to Wray.
FBI chief Wray: China has learned from the West's punitive measures against Russia
The FBI chief also touched on the Taiwan question during the conversation at MI5 headquarters.
China regards democratic Taiwan as a breakaway province and threatens military conquest.
If there were to be a Chinese attack on the island, it would "present one of the most terrible economic disruptions the world has ever seen," Wray said.
Taiwan is one of the most important semiconductor manufacturing centers in the world.
Chips from the Taiwanese contract manufacturer TSMC are found in countless technical devices from manufacturers such as Apple.
Wray said China is already trying to insulate its economy against possible sanctions that the West might impose if it invades Taiwan.
After the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, the government in Beijing observed how punitive measures were imposed on Russia and learned from it.
"We've seen China look for ways to insulate its economy against possible sanctions and try to protect itself from harm if it does something that draws the wrath of the international community," Wray said.
"In our world, we call this type of behavior a cue."
China denies allegations: 'unfounded'
Hopes that China's political system could be democratized through further integration into the global economy were dismissed by MI5 boss McCallum.
"Unfortunately, the widespread Western assumption that growing prosperity in China and increasing interconnectedness with the West would automatically lead to more political freedom has turned out to be simply wrong," he said.
According to McCallum, the Chinese Communist Party is interested in the “democratic, media and legal system” of the West;
however, “not to imitate them, but to use them to their advantage”.
In Beijing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said "the allegations against China are completely unfounded."
Zhao urged FBI chief Wray to "correct his opinion, look at China's development objectively and rationally, stop spreading lies and stop making irresponsible statements."
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