Efforts to counter China feature throughout the 2027 US defence bill, which proposes more than $1 trillion in military spending and is due to return to Congress after the midterm elections, the South China Morning Post reports.
The lower chamber, the House of Representatives, approved its version of the National Defense Authorization Act in July, but a Senate procedural vote failed after Democrats objected to President Trump's military action involving Iran. The two chambers must agree a final text before Congress breaks at the end of the year.
Provisions would limit Pentagon purchases of Chinese-made technology and materials, tighten scrutiny of AI chips, support allies along the first island chain and require a South China Sea crisis strategy. The House version would also authorise up to $1 billion for Taiwan's defence, despite Trump recently calling arms sales to Taipei negotiating chips with Beijing.
Source: South China Morning Post
