Washington, March 20: China is striving to become the world’s leading power in artificial Intelligence (AI) by 2030 while rapidly modernizing its military to potentially exert force over Taiwan if necessary. This information was shared by Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, during a briefing to lawmakers on Thursday.
Gabbard indicated that Beijing still appears to prioritize “peaceful integration” with Taiwan without conflict. Presenting the 2026 Annual Threat Assessment before the House Intelligence Committee, she stated that China aims to displace the United States as the global AI leader by 2030 and is swiftly 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 changing 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 AI can assist in the design of weapons and systems, and its use in recent conflicts has influenced target acquisition and expedited decision-making processes. Emerging technologies are increasingly becoming the focal point of future warfare.
On the military front, Gabbard noted that China is “rapidly modernizing” its armed forces across all domains to achieve a “world-class” status by mid-century. This includes developing capabilities aimed at countering the United States and its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
The intelligence assessment also highlighted that Beijing’s strategic objective is to develop the capacity to forcibly bring Taiwan under its control if needed. However, Gabbard mentioned that China likely prioritizes creating conditions for a “peaceful reunification with Taiwan without conflict.”
Beyond military development, 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 American 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 noted China’s growing presence in regions such as Latin America and the Arctic. In the Western Hemisphere, she said 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 also 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 by stating that the intelligence community continues to prioritize domestic threats and global risks, identifying China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran as key state actors shaping the evolving security environment.