U.S. intelligence agencies have identified China as the biggest military and cyber threat to the United States, according to the 2025 Annual Threat Assessment presented Tuesday before the Senate Intelligence Committee.
The report warns that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is steadily advancing its capabilities to seize Taiwan and, if necessary, counter U.S. military intervention.
It also states that China poses a direct threat to U.S. security, with the ability to launch conventional strikes, cripple critical infrastructure through cyberattacks, and target American assets in space.
Tulsi then turned her focus to the threat of China.
“At this point, the IC assesses that China is our most capable strategic competitor.”
“Under the leadership of president Xi Jinping, the People’s Republic Of China seeks to position itself as a leading power on the world stage… pic.twitter.com/yUrIWd4HdY
— End Tribalism in Politics (@EndTribalism) March 25, 2025
“China’s military is fielding advanced capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, stealth aircraft, advanced submarines, enhanced space and cyberwarfare tools, and an expanding nuclear arsenal,” Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told the committee.
The report also raises alarms over China’s use of artificial intelligence to spread disinformation, impersonate individuals online, and bolster cyber warfare efforts.
Beyond China, the assessment warns that Iran, Russia, and North Korea continue to pose cyber, propaganda, and military threats to the U.S. It states that while Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon, it is expanding its drone and missile programs.
The report also identifies fentanyl and international drug cartels as among the top national security threats to the U.S.
