China wants to reorder the existing global order and can be an adversary as a strategic competitor if the US is not careful, Defence Secretary nominee Mark Esper has said.
Esper said China has great economic power potential and are using it in the region to influence others, either overtly or covertly.
"China wants to reorder the global order. They want to do everything from replacing the institutions to replace the dollar," Esper told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing.
One of the biggest concerns, he said, was that China would use its economic might and taking advantage of small countries who need capital.
"They're getting them into debt in a way that they are able to capture strategic ports, critical minerals and resources," he said."It's just a matter of time before they match US and possibly surpass America."