US Senate backs US$770 billion defence bill, with eye on China and Russia
- The bill includes US$7.1 billion for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative and a statement of congressional support for the defence of Taiwan,
- It also includes a ban on the Department of Defence procuring products made with forced labour from China’s Xinjiang region.
The vote was 88-11, with strong support from both Democrats and Republicans for the annual legislation setting policy for the Department of Defence. The House of Representatives passed it by 363-70 last week.
The tally had been 89-10 but Democratic Senator Cory Booker changed his vote later on Wednesday.
The fiscal 2022 NDAA authorises US$770 billion in military spending, US$25 billion more than Biden requested and about 5 per cent more than last year’s budget.
The bill has provisions intended to push back against the United States’ major geopolitical rivals, including US$7.1 billion to strengthen the US against China for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative.
It directs Biden to develop a “Grand Strategy with Respect to China”, and also directs the Defence Department to put together reports on China’s activities, ranging from modernisation technologies, security developments and the military.