The US Department of Defense (DOD) on Thursday released its annual report[pdf] assessing the military power of China. The report states that China continues to pursue economic, foreign policy and security strategies that contribute to the realization of “a powerful and prosperous China that is equipped with a ‘world-class’ military, securing China’s status as a great power with the aim of emerging as the preeminent power in the Indo-Pacific region.”
The DOD is especially concerned about how China manages to obtain foreign military and dual-use technologies through direct investment, but also by illicit means including cyberespionage and data theft, as well as influence operations targeting Chinese citizens with access to such technologies. The capabilities that China acquires by these means include “dynamic random access memory, aviation technologies, and antisubmarine warfare technologies,” all of which have “the potential to degrade core US operational and technological advantages.”
Read more: China stealing foreign military technology in race to become world power: Report
