The National Security Case for U.S. Support for the Burma Resistance

Each year, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) releases the Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community, outlining the most pressing threats to U.S. national security. For the past decade, China has consistently been identified as the most comprehensive and systemic challenge to the United States and the international rules-based order, due to its military expansion, economic coercion, cyber operations, and efforts to undermine global institutions.

The Taiwan Strait is the primary focus of U.S. intelligence and defense efforts, as a Chinese invasion of Taiwan is widely considered the most likely trigger for a direct military conflict between the United States and China. Given Beijing’s growing military capabilities and explicit commitment to reunification—by force if necessary—U.S. defense strategy increasingly prioritizes deterrence and preparedness in the region.