US warned again that China plans to invade Taiwan by 2027

The United States Department of War warned on Wednesday that China's rapid and sustained military buildup represents a growing threat to U.S. security and that of its allies, according to its annual report on Chinese military power. The document keeps that Beijing is actively preparing for a possible large-scale conflict, with Taiwan as the main focus of tension in the short term.

According to the 2025 report, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) is aligning its forces to provide the Chinese dictator, Xi Jinping, "credible" military options against Taiwan by the year 2027.

The Pentagon's assessment indicates that China aspires to be in a position to "fight and win" a war over the self-governed island toward the end of that period, in a context of increasingly intense military, political, and economic pressure on Taipei.

U.S. officials emphasize that China's military modernization is unprecedented in its scale and speed. The report highlights a rapid expansion of China's nuclear arsenal, the development of hypersonic weapons capable of evading missile defenses, the increase in long-range missiles, and the strengthening of capabilities in cybersecurity and in the space domain.

The Pentagon warns that these improvements no longer only threaten U.S. forces deployed abroad, but also raise the risk for the U.S. mainland itself.

The document also warns about Beijing's strategy to consolidate its dominance in the Indo-Pacific, particularly over the so-called "First Island Chain," which extends from Japan and Taiwan to Southeast Asia.

Controlling this strip would allow China to restrict the access and freedom of maneuver of the United States and its partners, weakening key alliances and altering the regional balance of power.

In the non-conventional sphere, the report notes that Chinese cyber operations have targeted U.S. critical infrastructure and military networks, as part of a broader hybrid warfare strategy.

In addition, China has increasingly integrated its space systems, including surveillance, communication, and positioning satellites, into its military planning, expanding the potential battlefield and increasing the risk of escalation in domains that have so far been less regulated.

Washington considers that these actions reflect a broader ambition by Beijing to reshape the international order in its favor. The Pentagon keeps that China uses its growing military power to intimidate neighboring countries, pressure Taiwan, and challenge international norms, instead of acting as a responsible power committed to global stability.

The report comes at a time of persistent tensions between the two powers and reinforces the White House's position that the challenge posed by China is strategic and long-term. U.S. officials insist on the need to strengthen deterrence, deepen cooperation with allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, and maintain constant vigilance over the evolution of China's military capabilities.