China has no current plans to invade Taiwan in 2027, but is seeking to establish control over the self-governing island without force, according to the annual US intelligence report, AFP reports.

The intelligence community assesses that Chinese leaders do not currently plan to invade Taiwan in 2027 and do not have a fixed timetable for achieving reunification, the US intelligence community's annual threat assessment said.

Last year, US Defense Department officials had indicated 2027 as a possible date for an attack on Taiwan by China. However, the intelligence community has now offered a more balanced analysis.

In 2026, Beijing will likely continue to seek to create the conditions for a non-conflict reunification with Taiwan, the report said.

The document also warns that Chinese officials acknowledge that a naval invasion of Taiwan would be extremely difficult and carry a high risk of failure, especially if the US intervenes.

The report’s authors said that China has publicly argued that reunification with Taiwan is necessary to achieve its goal of national rejuvenation by 2049, a much longer time frame for achieving its goals.

The report says that Beijing would consider a number of factors in any decision to invade Taiwan, including its combat readiness, the island’s policies, and whether Washington would intervene on Taiwan’s behalf.

Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan but is the island’s main military backer, although that support has softened somewhat under US President Donald Trump. But a Taiwanese security official on Thursday warned that this does not mean that the threat to Taiwan has disappeared.