China’s AI chip smuggling networks — one instance of which diverted $2.5bn of Nvidia servers to China via southeast Asia — must be curtailed through stricter global export licences. The US must also block Chinese access to US AI models via cloud platforms and halt exports of tools that produce advanced chips. These steps could expand the US lead from seven months to 18 or more, buying time to deploy AI-based cyber defences nationwide.

Every additional month means another bank, hospital, or power grid secured before China — or another country using Chinese technology — develops the tools to break in.