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.

US Politics

Reuters

Published: 2:41am, 16 Dec 2021

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A majority of the US Senate on Wednesday backed the National Defence Authorisation Act, or NDAA, sending the US$770 billion bill to President Joe Biden’s desk for his signature.

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.

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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.

The legislation also includes a ban on the Defence Department procuring products made with forced labour from China’s Xinjiang region.

Regarding Taiwan, the bill includes a statement of congressional support for the defence of Taiwan.

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On the Russian front, the legislation authorises US$4 billion for the European Deterrence Initiative, which aims to discourage Moscow’s aggression on the continent.

There is also US$300 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which provides support to Ukraine’s armed forces and US$150 million for Baltic security cooperation.

This comes just days after Biden put Russian President Vladimir Putin on notice that the US and its allies are prepared to impose tough economic sanctions against Russia if Moscow escalates its aggression against Ukraine.

A result of intense negotiations between House of Representatives and Senate Democrats and Republicans, the legislation also includes a 2.7 per cent pay increase for the troops, and more aircraft and Navy ship purchases.

Additional reporting by Tribune News Service