Washington, March 20 (). China is trying to become the world’s top power in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030 and is also rapidly modernizing its military so that it can take control of Taiwan by force if needed.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard gave this information to lawmakers on Thursday. However, he also said that Beijing still seems to prefer ‘peaceful unification with Taiwan, without conflict’.
Presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment to the House Intelligence Committee, Gabbard said Beijing ‘aims to displace the US as the global AI leader by 2030’ and is rapidly expanding its technological and military capabilities to strengthen its global position.
He said the intelligence community assesses that China is the ‘most capable competitor’ in the field of artificial intelligence. He described this technology as something that is rapidly changing the global threat landscape.
He warned that large-scale use of AI “poses serious risks,” including its use in weapons design, battlefield target designation and decision-making systems.
“AI can be used to aid in the design of weapons and systems, and in recent conflicts it has been used to influence targeting and speed up decision-making,” Gabbard said.
He emphasized that emerging technologies are becoming the center of future wars.
On the military front, he said China is “rapidly modernizing its armed forces in all areas” to achieve “world-class” status by mid-century. This includes the development of capabilities that are designed to deter the US and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
The intelligence assessment also stated that Beijing’s strategic objective is to develop the capability to subjugate Taiwan by force if necessary. At the same time, Gabbard said China likely prioritizes creating conditions for “eventual peaceful reunification with Taiwan without conflict.”
Beyond military development, China’s ambitions extend to economic and geopolitical influence. Gabbard said Beijing is working to “enhance its political, economic, military and technological power” to expand global influence and counter threats it perceives to its interests.
In the cyber arena, he warned that China remains one of the most persistent threats to US networks and critical infrastructure. The intelligence community assesses that both China and Russia are investing heavily in their cyber capabilities to gather future intelligence and prepare options for potential disruption.
Gabbard also noted China’s growing presence in regions such as Latin America and the Arctic. In the Western Hemisphere, he said China’s demand for raw materials will drive its economic expansion, while in the Arctic it is making “limited efforts” to advance its strategic and economic interests.
China and Russia are developing advanced missile delivery systems capable of “penetrating or bypassing” US missile defense systems, reflecting a broader trend of increasing strategic competition between major powers.
The assessment also noted that emerging technologies such as quantum computing could give early adopters a decisive edge by enabling them to process sensitive national security data and break existing encryption systems.
Gabbard said the intelligence community continues to prioritize domestic threats and global risks, considering China, Russia, North Korea and Iran as key state actors that are shaping the changing security environment.
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AY/DKP
