Thread by @jseldin

NEW: @TheJusticeDept launching new Strategy for Countering Nation-State Threats, Asst AG Matthew Olsen tells audience at @MasonNatSec

"We see nations such as #China, #Russia, #Iran & #NorthKorea becoming more aggressive & more capable...than ever before"

Foreign Malign Influence - "In recent years DOJ has exposed & prosecuted covert influence efforts undertaken on behalf of the governments of #Russia, #China, #Malaysia & #Pakistan, to name just a few" per @TheJusticeDept Asst AG Olsen

#Cyber-"We continue to see costly interference with critical infrastructure and public service systems, supply chains & private businesses" per @TheJusticeDept Asst AG Olsen citing example w/#China #Russia #Iran #NorthKorea

Biggest threat to US remain's #Beijing - "It is also clear to me that the gvt of #China stands apart" per @TheJusticeDept Asst AG Olsen

#China "has targeted US citizens w/connections to the intelligence community to obtain valuable government & military secrets" per @TheJusticeDept Asst AG Olsen, pointing to 4 recent espionage cases

#China gvt "has used malicious & unlawful cyber campaigns to pursue technological advancement & profit" per @TheJusticeDept Asst AG Olsen

.@TheJusticeDept-"We have heard concerns from the civil rights community that the “#China Initiative” fueled a narrative of intolerance & bias" per Asst AG Olsen "The rise in anti-Asian hate crime and hate incidents only heightens these concerns"

NEW: @TheJusticeDept's #China initiative "is not the right approach" per Asst AG Olsen

"The current threat landscape demands a broader approach" he says

"I want to emphasize my belief that the department’s actions have been driven by genuine national security concerns" per @TheJusticeDept's Olsen "But by grouping cases under the China Initiative rubric, we helped give rise to a harmful perception..."

"We will be relentless in defending our country from #China" per @TheJusticeDept's Olsen "Going forward, the National Security Division will pursue this work guided by our Strategy for Countering Nation-State Threats..."

#China major threat "in the realm of countering our economic prosperity" per @TheJusticeDept's Olsen

But he says the now defunct DOJ China Initiative didn't adequately address the threats from "a broad range of state actors" inlcu #Iran #DPRK and #Russia

"If #Russia launches any sort of disruptive #cyber attack...we're going to be prepared to respond" per @TheJusticeDept's Olsen

"This has been something we have been working around the clock on"