Delilah D’ Souza

Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, May 23: Despite ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, a new intelligence report from the United States has highlighted a major shift in India’s strategic focus: China, not Pakistan, is now seen as India’s biggest security challenge.

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency’s latest “Worldwide Threat Assessment”, released this week, points out that while India still views Pakistan as a serious concern, its top priority is managing the growing threat posed by China, especially along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“India now considers China its primary adversary, with Pakistan being a secondary issue,” the report said, noting that tensions with China, particularly in eastern Ladakh, could escalate quickly despite some recent progress in troop disengagement.

Over the past few years, India has been strengthening its defense capabilities, commissioning new weapons systems—including a second nuclear-powered submarine, INS Arighaat—as part of efforts to boost deterrence and national security. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, the report adds, is focused on building military strength, asserting India’s global influence, and pushing back against China’s growing presence in the region.

Meanwhile, the report says Pakistan continues to see India as a threat to its very existence, and has been expanding its battlefield nuclear weapons program to balance India’s conventional military power. These weapons are reportedly being developed with material and support from Chinese suppliers, routed through places like Hong Kong, Singapore, Turkey, and the UAE.

The report also sheds light on the increasing closeness between Pakistan and China, with Beijing continuing to be a major provider of economic and military support to Islamabad.

More broadly, the report warns about China’s rapid advances in military technology. It says the Chinese military is integrating next-gen tools, from hypersonic weapons and electronic warfare systems to anti-satellite missiles. China already has over 1,000 satellites, including hundreds for surveillance purposes, and it’s building the capacity to disable or destroy enemy satellites during conflict.

Perhaps the most alarming detail: China’s nuclear arsenal has grown to over 600 warheads, and it could exceed 1,000 by 2030, many kept on high alert for quick launch.

The report paints a sobering picture of Asia’s evolving security landscape—where China’s aggressive military buildup and technological edge are creating new challenges not just for India, but for the broader global order.