China is the Most Acute Threat to American Security, Warns US Intelligence Report

China presents "the most comprehensive and robust military threat" to U.S. national security and remains the "most active and persistent cyber threat" to critical American networks, according to the latest Annual Threat Assessment (ATA) released by U.S. intelligence agencies.

The 2025 ATA, published on Tuesday, offers a coordinated evaluation of global threats to the United States, its citizens, and its interests. The report underscores growing security challenges, with China emerging as the most capable adversary in both military and cyber domains.

China’s Expanding Military and Strategic Capabilities

The report details Beijing’s continued efforts to modernize its military, projecting power beyond its borders and deterring U.S. intervention in regional conflicts. It warns that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is developing a joint force capable of "full-spectrum warfare," aiming to secure China's claimed territories and counter U.S. military operations in the Pacific.

"A major portion of China’s military modernization efforts is focused on developing counter-intervention capabilities tailored against all aspects of U.S. and allied military operations in the Pacific," the report states.

The PLA has also enhanced its ability to conduct long-range precision strikes with conventional weapons against key U.S. locations in the western Pacific, including Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska.

Beyond conventional forces, the report highlights China’s intent to "modernize, diversify, and expand its nuclear posture." It also notes that China has "eclipsed Russia as a space leader" and is positioning itself as a competitor to the United States in space technology and exploration.

A Growing Cyber Threat

China remains the United States' most persistent cyber adversary, with capabilities that pose a serious threat to government, private-sector, and critical infrastructure networks.

"China has demonstrated the ability to compromise U.S. infrastructure through formidable cyber capabilities that it could employ during a conflict with the United States," the report warns.

The document details Beijing’s efforts to gain access to critical U.S. systems, pre-positioning itself for potential cyberattacks in times of crisis. By leveraging its dominance in mining and processing rare materials, China also has the ability to "restrict quantities and affect global prices," further extending its economic influence.

Russia, Iran, and North Korea Also Identified as Major Threats

While China stands out as the most capable adversary, the report also lists Russia, Iran, and North Korea as key security threats to the U.S. and its interests.

Regarding Russia, the report states that Moscow views the ongoing war in Ukraine as a "proxy conflict with the West" and that the prolonged hostilities have increased tensions between the two nations. The assessment notes Russia’s growing confidence in its military capabilities and defense industry, which could prolong the conflict and complicate U.S. efforts to bring the war to a resolution.

"The resulting heightened and prolonged political-military tensions between Moscow and Washington, coupled with Russia’s growing confidence in its battlefield superiority and defense industrial base and increased risk of nuclear war, create both urgency and complications for U.S. efforts to bring the war to an acceptable close," the report states.

Illicit Drug Trade and Other Concerns

Beyond state security threats, the report also highlights the issue of illicit fentanyl precursor chemicals, claiming that both China and India are major sources of these substances. 

The report emphasizes that growing cooperation among adversarial nations, particularly China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, poses a broader strategic risk. "Growing cooperation among these actors expands the threat, increasing the risk that should hostilities with one occur, it may draw in others," it warns.

A Complex and Intensifying Security Landscape

The 2025 Annual Threat Assessment paints a picture of an increasingly complex security environment, with China leading the list of global threats. While the report acknowledges that China exercises more caution in its approach compared to Russia, Iran, and North Korea—given its economic and diplomatic considerations—it warns that Beijing’s growing military and cyber capabilities position it as the most formidable challenge to U.S. global leadership.

As tensions continue to rise, U.S. policymakers will have to navigate these security risks carefully, balancing deterrence with diplomatic engagement in an evolving geopolitical landscape.