Assessing the China-Russia Threat Nexus in Technology and Information Warfare

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China and Russia continue to deploy sophisticated information operations and systematic technology theft to undermine U.S. national security, reshape global norms, and influence public opinion across the West.

Both regimes have spent decades stealing American intellectual property, trade secrets, and advanced technology – and are now weaponizing artificial intelligence to accelerate their espionage and influence campaigns. As Beijing and Moscow’s influence campaigns expand and evolve, the U.S. and its allies must understand the methods employed by the authoritarian regimes and their real-world consequences.

To discuss where these adversaries collaborate and how Beijing learns from Moscow’s tactics, FDD hosts David Shedd, former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and author of the newly published book, The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets, and Ivana Stradner, research fellow with FDD’s Barish Center for Media Integrity. The discussion will be moderated by Craig Singleton, senior director of FDD’s China Program.

David Shedd’s new book, published by Harper in December 2025

Craig Singleton

Craig Singleton is senior director of FDD’s China Program and a senior fellow. He previously spent more than a decade serving in a series of sensitive national security roles with the U.S. government, where he primarily focused on East Asia. In that capacity, Craig regularly briefed federal law enforcement, U.S. military personnel, foreign governments, congressional oversight committees, and the White House on a wide range of issues, including China’s overseas military expansion, Chinese malign influence, and North Korea. Craig is a regular contributor to numerus notable news outlets.

David Shedd

David Shedd is the former acting director of the Defense Intelligence Agency (2014-2015). From May 2007 to August 2010, David served as the director of National Intelligence (DNI) deputy director for policy. Prior to that, he served in several capacities in the Office of the DNI, the White House’s National Security Council, CIA, and in U.S. embassies abroad. Since February 2015, David served as a senior fellow at the Heritage Foundation and as an adjunct professor at Patrick Henry College until the end of 2022. He is the author of The Great Heist: China’s Epic Campaign to Steal America’s Secrets.

Ivana Stradner

Ivana Stradner serves as a research fellow with FDD’s Barish Center for Media Integrity. She studies Russia’s security strategies and military doctrines to understand how Russia uses information operations for strategic communication. Ivana also serves as a special correspondent for Kyiv Post. Before joining FDD, Ivana worked as a visiting scholar at Harvard University and a lecturer for a variety of universities, including the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, and as a Jeane Kirkpatrick fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.