In September 2025, Communist China publicly revealed its nuclear triad for the first time. At a military parade, the regime showcased an impressive array of land-, sea-, and air-launched nuclear weapons, emphasizing its rapid nuclear buildup. Yet China has made even faster progress on a “tech triad” that matters just as much in the 21st century. At lightning speed, it has integrated nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems. The United States has only begun to recognize how interconnected these technologies are. If we are to stay ahead of China, urgent national action is necessary.
You can say this for the Chinese Communist Party: It sees the big picture. Its leaders understand that nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and autonomous systems are the three pillars on which military power will be built from now on. Nuclear energy is essential to delivering the steady, high-output electricity required to power advanced artificial intelligence. AI, meanwhile, enables autonomy across all manner of emerging platforms, from coordinated drone swarms to collaborative unmanned aircraft. China is moving forward on all three fronts, with a strategic framework to achieve military dominance over the U.S. within the next five years.
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