Washington, Mar 1, SPA -- China's steady military and economic expansion may ultimately lead to Beijing attaining superpower status equal to that of the United States, Director of National Intelligence John Negroponte said Tuesday. "Globalization is causing a shift of momentum and energy to greater Asia, where China has steadily expanding reach and may become a peer competitor to the United States at some point," Negroponte said at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on global security threats. "Consistent high rates of economic growth, driven by exploding foreign trade, have increased Beijing's political influence abroad and fueled a military modernization program that has steadily increased Beijing's force projection capabilities," Negroponte said. China's foreign policy is now focused on other Asian nations "where Beijing hopes to make economic inroads to increase political influence and to prevent a backlash against its rise," Negroponte said. However, the intelligence chief suggested that China's sphere of influence will eventually broaden. "Beijing also has expanded diplomatic and economic interaction with other major powers, especially Russia and the European Union, and begun to increase its presence in Africa and Latin America," he said.--SPA 13 27 Local Time 10 27 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/335868