WASHINGTON, D.C. — Military officials and analysts in the United States have for years warned of possible Chinese armed attacks or blockades on Taiwan, but a report released on Friday has raised a red flag about possible nonmilitary tactics that could be used effectively against the self-governed island.

Beijing could wage an economic and cyber war to force Taiwan to surrender without directly using military power, the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a Washington, D.C.-based research institute, said in the report. Such a likely but overlooked scenario, it added, poses a challenge for the US, the island's biggest ally, and suggested that Washington make preparations for how best to respond.