Former White House Official Urges US to Consider Military Strikes to Prevent China from Achieving AGI First

Jacob Stokes, deputy director of the Indo-Pacific Security Program at the Centre for a New American Security (CNAS), argued that the United States should prepare for scenarios involving extreme measures, including military strikes on Chinese data centres, to prevent China from achieving AGI first. Stokes made these remarks at an online event, where he highlighted the need for US agencies, including the Department of Defense, to take proactive steps. The Star reported the event on September 5, 2026, while the SCMP published its version on September 3, 2026, both citing Stokes' statements.