US lists China, Russia as its main challengers

The United States on Tuesday put emerging superpower China and former Cold War foe Russia alongside Iran and North Korea on a list of the four main nations challenging American interests.

In a report outlining the major priorities for the US intelligence community, China was singled out for its "increasing natural resource-focused diplomacy and military modernization."

"Russia is a US partner in important initiatives such as securing fissile material and combating nuclear terrorism, but it may continue to seek avenues for reasserting power and influence in ways that complicate US interests," said the report, which is released every four years.

The report stressed that there may be opportunities to work with China and Russia and was far harsher in its criticism of Iran and North Korea, whose nuclear weapons programs are a top concern in the West.

"Iran poses an array of challenges to US security objectives in the Middle East and beyond because of its nuclear and missile programs, support of terrorism, and provision of lethal aid to US and coalition adversaries.

"North Korea continues to threaten peace and security in East Asia because of its sustained pursuit of nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, its transfer of these capabilities to third parties, its erratic behavior, and its large conventional military capability," it said.

The report, which lays out the priorities for the US intelligence community for the next four years, said Al-Qaeda "will continue to pose a grave threat to US persons and interests at home and abroad."

Listed at the top of its "mission objectives" were combating violent extremism and countering the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.