With protests underway in Hong Kong in an effort to get its chief executive to resign, former acting director of the CIA Jack Devine says that right now he's more concerned about the situation there than the Islamic State (ISIS).
"To be very blunt on this point, the thing that's keeping me up at night is Hong Kong," Devine told J.D. Hayworth on "America's Forum" on
Newsmax TV Thursday.
Story continues below video.
Note: Watch Newsmax TV now on DIRECTV Ch. 349 and DISH Ch. 223
Get Newsmax TV on your cable system – Click Here Now
"With ISIS we're moving forward, we're doing everything that can be possibly done," he explained. "There will be more and more pressure put on, we see the path."
However, he says that "where we don't see the path is Hong Kong."
The Hong Kong protesters have vowed to continue until Hong Kong Chief Executive C.Y. Leung resigns. Those who oppose Leung see him as a mouthpiece for China.
"The Chinese are deeply troubled about the implications not only in Hong Kong, but below the tip of the iceberg in China," Devine contends.
"You're looking at a system that is fragile. They know it's fragile from a political point of view, and if the economy tilts, say it goes from seven to three percent GDP, you're going to see the prospects of unrest," he explained.
"However, on the other side of it, you need to watch carefully Hong Kong and how they handle it," he said.
"What I was looking at today is the Chinese are looking to wait it out," he added. "But if they crack down, this thing can get out of hand."
According to the former acting director of the CIA, "we all need to worry about the impact on the Chinese economy."
"If you start to have instability and the economy starts to lag, then that's going to have repercussions around the world, including here," he explained.
On the one hand, he says that "it's important that the Chinese economy remains robust."
Related stories:
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.