US Senate passes US$700 billion defence act to support Taiwan and counter China and Russia

Measures include monitoring China’s military capability and interference in January’s Taiwan elections

Donald Trump set to sign act that also creates ‘Space Force’ and raises overall defence spending

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The Pentagon, the US defence department headquarters, would receive most of the US$738 billion military budget passed on Tuesday. Photo: The Washington Post

Published: 7:30pm, 18 Dec 2019Updated: 12:35am, 19 Dec 2019

The US Senate has passed a US$738 billion defence bill that includes further support for Taiwan and assessments of Beijing’s military capabilities.

The final version of the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), which will go to the White House for approval, provides for a 2.8 per cent increase in US military spending and outlines measures to counter US adversaries such as China and Russia.

It would require reports on Beijing’s military capabilities, Chinese investments in the Arctic region and Beijing’s efforts to influence next month’s Taiwan elections, according to the record of congressional proceedings last week.

The Senate, the US Congress’ upper chamber, voted to pass the legislation 86 to 8 on Tuesday, after the House of Representatives approved the bill last week 377 to 48. US President Donald Trump last Wednesday promised to “immediately” sign the bill into law.

“This bipartisan document outlines the challenges we need to be prepared to meet – namely strategic competition with China and Russia,” Oklahoma senator Jim Inhofe, sponsor of the bill, said on the Senate floor.