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U.S. Official: Beware of Chinese Leaders Bearing Coronavirus Gifts

Senior State arms official says China’s outreach could put at risk sovereign U.S. allies and American weapons systems.

By , a Pentagon and national security reporter at Foreign Policy.
R. Clarke Cooper in Washington
R. Clarke Cooper in Washington
R. Clarke Cooper testifies during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee nominations hearing in Washington on Aug. 1, 2018. Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

The Trump administration is concerned that China could be trying to squeeze U.S. allies with a recent diplomatic salvo of coronavirus-related medical aid and humanitarian assistance, R. Clarke Cooper, the State Department’s assistant secretary for political-military affairs, said in an interview with Foreign Policy.

Jack Detsch is a Pentagon and national security reporter at Foreign Policy. Twitter: @JackDetsch

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