The US CIA director warned against underestimating him Xi Jinping‘s ambitions too take control of Taiwan.

What happened: The top US intelligence chief Bill Burns said during a hearing of the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday that Beijing has not yet decided whether it will take military action for “reunification” with Taipeiwhere China claims sovereignty.

See also: Xi Jinping proposes 12-point ceasefire plan to end Putin’s war

Burns, a former US diplomat, added that he would not “underestimate the ambition or determination of the current Chinese leadership in this regard.”

At the same hearing Avril Hainesthe Director of National Intelligence also warned against it a war over Taiwan would have a massive impact on the global economy and the supply of semiconductors. Haines added that the Treasury Department, the Commerce Department and other US government agencies have been investigating the potential impact.

“Studies show that if Taiwan’s semiconductor production were to be disrupted, it would actually have an absolutely tremendous impact on global finance, because really…Taiwan, the semiconductors, the chips that come out of Taiwan are in practically every category of electronic device in the world,” said Haines.

Late last month, Burns said Wladimir Putin‘s botched war in Ukraine has raised doubts among the Chinese President that his military could successfully invade Taiwan. However, Xi has repeatedly spoken of taking on the threat a Chinese invasion of Taiwan seriously.

Learn more about Benzinga’s coverage in Europe and Asia at the following this link.