United States Urged to Consider Military Action to Block Chinese Artificial Intelligence Breakthrough
Washington, Friday, 4 September 2026.
A major security report recommends the United States consider military strikes, cyber warfare, and espionage to prevent China from achieving dominance in artificial general intelligence.
Escalation in AI Security Strategy
A former White House advisor has publicly called on Washington to consider military strikes, cyber warfare, and espionage to prevent China from achieving Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) first [1]. The provocative recommendation highlights growing geopolitical anxieties over technological dominance and signals a potential escalation in US-China tech policy, with profound implications for global supply chains and semiconductor markets [1][4]. Jacob Stokes, deputy director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS), stated at an online event on Thursday that various US agencies should begin assessing what intelligence they need to justify taking such actions [1]. This includes the Department of Defense and the National Security Agency evaluating the feasibility of kinetic measures against Chinese data centres [1].
Escalation in AI Security Strategy
In a new CNAS report published last week, the former Obama administration national security staffer called for the US government to consider the feasibility of diplomatic, espionage, cyber and kinetic measures to prevent China from achieving AGI first [1]. The report, titled “Superpowers and AGI”, explores how the imminent arrival of AGI might affect US-China geopolitical competition [1]. Stokes noted that policymakers must work backwards based on the unique nature of the technology, similar to how previous eras addressed nuclear weapons [1]. The proposal does not mean that China has achieved AGI, nor that Washington has decided to attack Chinese data centres, but it prepares the ground for extreme scenarios [4].
Technological Competition and Espionage
The Center for a New American Security says outpacing China in the race for artificial general intelligence is so important that the United States should be ready to steal Chinese technology in order to catch up, if Beijing is first to achieve game-changing AGI breakthroughs [3]. Stokes warned of the potential for China to achieve a “surprise technological breakthrough” through advancements in robotics and embodied AI [1]. While the US currently enjoys a months-long lead over China in frontier AI models according to Epoch AI, the risk of a shift in dominance remains a primary driver for these contingency plans [1]. This stance suggests a willingness to engage in state-backed espionage to ensure any Chinese advantage is short-lived [3].
Technological Competition and Espionage
The implications extend far beyond AI models, impacting advanced chips, computing capacity, data centres, electricity, and economic power [4]. That makes the global AI race increasingly inseparable from the competition over technology, energy, capital and strategic infrastructure [4]. A military confrontation between the world’s two largest powers over an emerging technology would carry consequences far beyond the AI industry [4]. The greatest danger may not be who reaches AGI first, but what the other side is prepared to do to prevent it [4].
Diplomatic Repercussions and Summit
On 2026-09-02, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that AI governance is on the agenda for the upcoming summit between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping [2]. A diplomatic summit between Trump and Xi Jinping is scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., on 2026-09-24 [2]. These discussions occur against a backdrop of heightened tension following the publication of the CNAS report on 2026-08-28 [2]. The timing underscores the urgency with which Washington views the technological balance of power [2].
Diplomatic Repercussions and Summit
Critics argue such proposals risk starting a shooting war between two nuclear-armed powers that could have tragic consequences for all concerned [2]. William Hartung, an arms analyst at the Project on Government Oversight, described the potential for kinetic action as the height of recklessness [2]. Despite the risks, Stokes argues that the US intelligence apparatus requires structural reform to accomplish necessary espionage, noting it has not been organized for espionage to gather technological secrets for decades [2]. As the September summit approaches, the intersection of national security and technological policy remains a critical flashpoint [2].