Daniel Coats in Trump Cabinet members actions and issues
On Foreign Policy:
China's goal is global superiority, including militarily
China's actions reflect a long-term strategy to achieve global superiority. Beijing's global ambition continues to restrict the personal freedoms of its citizens, while strictly enforcing obedience to Chinese leadership, with very few remaining checks
on President Xi's power.In its efforts to diminish US influence and extend its own economic, political, and military reach, Beijing will seek to tout a distinctly Chinese fusion of strong-man autocracy and a form of western style capitalism as a
development model and implicit alternative to democratic values and institutions. These efforts will include the use of its intelligence and influence apparatus to shape international views and gain advantages over its competitors--including the
United States.
As part of this trend, we anticipate China will attempt to further solidify and increase its control within its immediate sphere of influence in the South China Sea and its global presence farther abroad.
Source: Annual Threat Assessment by DNI (Trump Cabinet report)
Jan 29, 2019
On Foreign Policy:
China grows by investment; Russia by misdirection
China's pursuit of intellectual property, sensitive research and development plans, and US Person data, remains a significant threat to the US government and private sector.China's military capabilities and reach will continue to grow as it invests
heavily in developing and fielding advanced weapons, and Beijing will use its military clout to expand its footprint and complement its broadening political and economic influence, as we've seen with its one-belt one-road initiative.
Whereas with China, we must be concerned about the methodical and long-term efforts to capitalize on its past decade of a growing economy and to match, or overtake
our superior global capabilities, Russia's approach relies on misdirection and obfuscation as it seeks to destabilize and diminish our standing in the world.
Source: Annual Threat Assessment by DNI (Trump Cabinet report)
Jan 29, 2019
On Technology:
Russia abuses social media in anti-democracy information war
Russia's approach [to foreign affairs with the West] relies on misdirection and obfuscation as it seeks to destabilize and diminish our standing in the world.Even as Russia faces a weakening economy, the Kremlin is stepping up its campaign to divide
Western political and security institutions and undermine the post-WWII international order. We expect Russia will continue to wage its information war against democracies and to use social media to attempt to divide our societies.
Russia's attack against Ukrainian naval vessels in November is just the latest example of the Kremlin's willingness to violate international norms to coerce its neighbors and accomplish its goals. We also expect Russia will use cyber techniques to
influence Ukraine's upcoming Presidential election.
The Kremlin has aligned Russia with repressive regimes in Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and Venezuela, and Moscow's relationship with Beijing is closer than it has been in many decades.
Source: Annual Threat Assessment by DNI (Trump Cabinet report)
Jan 29, 2019
On War & Peace:
North Korea views nuclear weapons as critical to survival
North Korea has not conducted any nuclear-capable missile or nuclear tests in more than a year, it has dismantled some of its nuclear infrastructure, and Kim Jong Un continues to demonstrate openness to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
Nevertheless, we currently assess that North Korea will seek to retain its WMD capabilities and is unlikely to completely give up its nuclear weapons and production capabilities, because its leaders ultimately view nuclear weapons as critical
to regime survival. Our observations [are that some of North Korea's] activities are inconsistent with full denuclearization.
While we assess that sanctions on exports have been effective and largely maintained, North Korea seeks to mitigate
the effects of the US-led pressure campaign through diplomatic engagement, counterpressure against the sanctions regime, and direct sanctions evasion.
Source: Annual Threat Assessment by DNI (Trump Cabinet report)
Jan 29, 2019
On War & Peace:
Iran escalating wars in Yemen and Syria, but not nukes
We expect Iran will continue supporting the Huthis in Yemen and Shia militants in Iraq, while developing indigenous military capabilities that threaten US forces and allies in the region.Iran maintains the largest inventory of ballistic missiles
in the Middle East. And while we do not believe Iran is currently undertaking the key activities we judge necessary to produce a nuclear device, Iranian officials have publicly threatened to push the boundaries of JCPOA restrictions if
Iran does not gain the tangible financial benefits it expected from the deal.
Its efforts to consolidate its influence in Syria and arm
Hizballah have prompted Israeli airstrikes; these actions underscore our concerns about the long-term trajectory of Iranian influence in the region and the risk of conflict escalation.
Source: Annual Threat Assessment by DNI (Trump Cabinet report)
Jan 29, 2019
On Corporations:
Pro-growth economic policies to put Americans back to work
Coats returned to the U.S. Senate in January 2011 to focus on reducing the national debt, promoting pro-growth economic policies to put Americans back to work, and protecting Americans from terrorist threats. He served on the Senate Select Committee
on Intelligence, as well as the Finance, Appropriations, and Joint Economic committees. He did not seek reelection in 2016 and retired from the Senate in January 2017.
Source: DNI.gov official website for Trump Cabinet biographies
Dec 31, 2018
On Homeland Security:
1980s & 1990s: strengthen our national defense and security
From 1981 to 1999, Coats served in the U.S. House of Representatives and then in the U.S. Senate. During this time in Congress, he served on the Senate Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence,
where he worked on ways to strengthen our national defense and security. In keeping with a term-limits pledge he had made, Coats retired from the Senate in 1999.
Source: DNI.gov official website for Trump Cabinet biographies
Dec 31, 2018
On Principles & Values:
Founded charity, The Foundation for American Renewal
Dan and Marsha Coats met in college and have three adult children. They have been active in charitable causes, including The Foundation for American
Renewal, which they formed together. DNI Coats has served as President of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and on the boards of many civic and volunteer organizations.
Source: DNI.gov official website for Trump Cabinet biographies
Dec 31, 2018
On Foreign Policy:
Criticizes government censorship & social controls in China
Coats criticized the Chinese government for ratcheting up social controls and surveillance within its own borders. He did not mention Google by name, but the company's capitulation to Chinese censorship mandates has been in the news this month.
One senior Google research scientist resigned in protest after the company agreed to remove content about human rights, free speech and political protest on a Chinese version of its search engine.
Since Xi Jinping took power as general secretary of the Chinese Communist Party in 2012, China has abandoned its previous strategy of "hiding its strengths and biding its time,"
Coats said. The government's crackdown on dissidents, as well as racial and religious minorities, has worried international human rights organizations this year.
Source: Charleston Post and Courier on 2018 Trump Cabinet
Sep 25, 2018
On Foreign Policy:
China holds 1M Muslims in "patriotic re-education" camps
Coats referred to reports that the Chinese government is holding as many as 1 million ethnic-minority Muslims in internment camps in the country's northwest for "patriotic re-education," requiring them to reject their ethnic identities and religious
beliefs. "Chinese officials in the Muslim northwest have instituted high-tech surveillance measures, including the collection of DNA & other bio-data throughout the region, with Chinese technology companies at the forefront of these actions," Coats said.
Source: Charleston Post and Courier on 2018 Trump Cabinet
Sep 25, 2018
Page last updated: Dec 03, 2021