Beijing accused of supporting U.S. adversaries
The deputy director of the National Security Agency has issued a stark warning about the scale of the threat posed by China across nearly every strategic domain.
Speaking at the TechNet Augusta conference, NSA Deputy Director Tim Kosiba said Beijing is involved in most of the national-security issues currently facing the United States. In his assessment, the competition between Washington and China has become intense and is unfolding across multiple theaters and environments.
From Greenland and the Korean Peninsula to the Western Hemisphere, China is acting as a spoiler and disruptor, seeking to assist U.S. adversaries across as many domains as possible.
Chinese geospatial intelligence allegedly aided Iranian attacks
Kosiba alleged that Chinese companies provided Iran with geospatial intelligence, or GEOINT, that was used to identify and strike U.S. bases and facilities belonging to American allies.
The allegation was made in the context of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Earlier reporting indicated that several Chinese companies, including firms linked to the Chinese military, had used artificial intelligence to analyze open-source information and commercial data markets in order to track U.S. forces.
While American officials differed over the precise level of danger posed by the information, defense sources warned that the activity could put lives at risk.
Beijing has rejected the implication that such activity was improper, maintaining that the imagery came from open sources and that its use represented routine market practice.
China accused of supplying Russia with intelligence and drone support
China has also been accused of providing Russia with intelligence, drone technology and military training during Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
The relationship between Beijing and Moscow has been described by both governments as a partnership without limits. European intelligence assessments have indicated that Russian personnel received training from China.
According to the NSA leadership, U.S. troops, cyber assets and signals-intelligence resources are tracking and countering these activities. The mission is considered a priority for the current administration.
NSA seeks closer cooperation with industry
To respond more effectively to these challenges, the National Security Agency is strengthening cooperation with partners in the United States and abroad.
The agency is also working to remove bureaucratic obstacles that can hinder collaboration with the defense and technology sectors. Faster access to commercial expertise, technologies and capabilities is viewed as essential in a rapidly changing security environment.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping warfare
The development and integration of artificial intelligence has become another major priority for the NSA.
Kosiba argued that the United States must turn its technological advances into an operational advantage. Artificial intelligence has the potential to change the character of warfare on both the offensive and defensive sides.
He emphasized that the world is already operating in the age of agentic AI. Unlike systems that simply respond to individual prompts, these models can carry out autonomous, multi-step actions.
The transformation, he said, is not a distant prospect expected to arrive in a year or a decade. It is already affecting the conflicts and military engagements taking place today.
The AI race is now part of the confrontation with China
The rapid pace of AI development is directly linked to the broader challenge posed by Beijing.
U.S. adversaries are investing in AI capabilities designed to penetrate American networks, exploit vulnerabilities and outpace defensive responses.
The decisive advantage will belong to whichever power can most successfully integrate artificial intelligence into its workflows and fully exploit the value of its data. In this competition, the ability to rapidly convert information into decisions and action could become one of the central determinants of military superiority.
