Part 9/17:
The potential for backdoors in network hardware to allow global surveillance is a major concern, especially given current geopolitical tensions. The speaker emphasizes that the Chinese government views itself as a rising superpower and that many actions—like military buildup in the South China Sea and the Belt and Road Initiative—are part of a broader strategy to establish dominance. The US is tasked with matching this with sufficient investment in intelligence, technology, and military readiness.