CIA Director William Burns on Thursday said Chinese President Xi Jinping is "a silent partner" in Russian President Vladimir Putin’s "aggression" in Ukraine, warning that China poses the "greatest challenge" and "most profound test" that the agency has ever faced. "A silent partner in Putin’s aggression, Xi Jinping’s China is our greatest challenge, in many ways the most profound test the CIA has ever faced," Burns warned, calling the People’s Republic of China a "formidable competitor lacking in neither ambition nor capability." As for Russia’s war on Ukraine, Burns reflected on his career, having previously served as the U.S. ambassador in Moscow and his experience with Putin. Burns said the CIA began gathering intelligence about Putin’s plans for an invasion of Ukraine early last fall. But further committing to the mission of the CIA, Burns declared that "politics truly must stop where intelligence work begins."

Source: Fox News April 15, 2022 11:34 UTC