Why should the CIA should spy on companies abroad?

In a recent Foreign Affairs piece, former CIA deputy director David S. Cohen argues for the CIA to engage in economic espionage against foreign companies to protect U.S. economic interests and national security. Cohen's piece highlights how traditional espionage methods are evolving in the face of growing economic threats from global competitors like China. This move could reshape U.S. intelligence strategies, emphasizing economic intelligence to safeguard technological advancements and intellectual property. Cohen's call for a more aggressive stance underscores the escalating importance of economic espionage in the modern geopolitical landscape.