Eftimiades Addresses Chinese Covert Influence and Espionage Threats

Nicholas Eftimiades, a Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council, has been actively discussing the threats posed by Chinese covert influence operations and espionage. In various interviews and testimonies throughout 2026, he highlighted the significant penetration of Chinese intelligence into American critical infrastructure, economic espionage, and political influence campaigns. Eftimiades emphasized the need for a credible deterrence framework and a comprehensive response strategy to counter these threats. His discussions also covered the organizational structure of the Chinese intelligence apparatus and the methods used for shipment masking to evade tariffs. The ongoing concerns revolve around the implications for U.S. national security and the necessity for policymakers to address these vulnerabilities effectively.

Key Points: • Eftimiades stresses the urgent need for a credible deterrence framework against Chinese influence. • Chinese intelligence operations have significantly penetrated American critical infrastructure. • Policymakers are urged to develop comprehensive strategies to counter economic and political espionage.