China does not have a plan to invade Taiwan in 2027 and has set no fixed deadline to take the island by force, according to a new annual threat assessment released by the United States intelligence community .
The report says Beijing still wants eventual unification with Taiwan but prefers to achieve this goal without going to war, even as it continues to modernise its armed forces and increase pressure on the island .
US agencies noted that some American defence officials had previously pointed to 2027 as a possible window for a Chinese attack, but the latest assessment concludes there is no current operational plan for an invasion in that year .
Instead, the report says that in 2026 and beyond, China is likely to keep using political, economic and military tools to squeeze Taiwan and shape conditions for unification while trying to avoid a direct conflict with the United States .
Analysts warn that Chinese leaders understand an amphibious assault on Taiwan would be extremely complex and risky, particularly if US forces intervened, and that any decision to use force would depend on factors such as military readiness, developments in Taiwan’s politics and expectations of Washington’s response .
The assessment notes that Beijing links unification with Taiwan to its broader ambition of “national rejuvenation” by 2049, suggesting that its strategic timeline is long term rather than tied to a specific date like 2027 .
Reacting to the report, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said the Taiwan question is purely an internal matter for China and urged Washington to stop “hyping” the idea of a China threat and to act prudently on the issue .
He accused the United States of misreading China’s intentions and warned that any external interference or support for what Beijing calls “separatist forces” in Taiwan would damage peace and stability in the region .
The report also points out that while the United States does not formally recognise Taiwan as an independent state, it remains Taipei’s main security partner and arms supplier, even though the tone of US support has shifted under President Donald Trump .
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