Washington, March 19: China is striving to become the world’s leading power in artificial intelligence (AI) by 2030 while rapidly modernizing its military to potentially exert control over Taiwan if necessary, according to Tulsi Gabbard, Director of National Intelligence.
During a briefing to lawmakers, Gabbard indicated that Beijing still appears to prioritize “peaceful integration” with Taiwan over conflict. Presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment to the House Intelligence Committee, she stated that China aims to displace the United States as the global AI leader by 2030, significantly expanding its technological and military capabilities to strengthen its global standing.
The intelligence community assesses that China is the “most capable competitor” in the field of artificial intelligence, a technology that is rapidly transforming the landscape of global threats. Gabbard warned that the widespread use of AI poses “serious risks,” including its application in weapon design, target acquisition on the battlefield, and decision-making systems.
She emphasized that emerging technologies are becoming central to future warfare. On the military front, Gabbard noted that China is swiftly modernizing its armed forces across all domains to achieve a “world-class” status by mid-century, developing capabilities aimed at countering the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
The assessment also highlighted that Beijing’s strategic objective is to develop the capability to forcibly bring Taiwan under its control if necessary. However, Gabbard mentioned that China likely prioritizes creating conditions for a “peaceful reunification” with Taiwan without conflict.
Beyond military advancements, China’s ambitions extend to economic and geopolitical influence. Gabbard stated that Beijing is working to enhance its “political, economic, military, and technological power” to expand its global influence and counter perceived threats to its interests.
In the cyber domain, she warned that China remains one of the most persistent threats to U.S. networks and critical infrastructure. The intelligence community assesses that both China and Russia are heavily investing in their cyber capabilities to gather intelligence and prepare for potential disruptions in the future.
Gabbard also mentioned China’s growing presence in regions like Latin America and the Arctic. In the Western Hemisphere, she noted that 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” U.S. missile defense systems, reflecting broader trends of increasing strategic competition among major powers.
The assessment further indicated that emerging technologies like quantum computing could provide early adopters with a decisive advantage by enabling them to process sensitive national security data and break existing encryption systems.
Gabbard concluded that the intelligence community continues to prioritize domestic threats and global risks, with China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran identified as key state actors shaping the changing security environment.