The House of Representatives has advanced a National Defense
Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2023; meanwhile, the Senate’s version
of the NDAA heads to the floor for consideration. Each version includes notable
provisions on matters relating to the Indo-Pacific. Some of these provisions
align while others will require significant negotiation before the final NDAA
is passed, likely later this year. Here are Asia-related items to watch:
| Topic | House NDAA Provisions | Senate NDAA Provisions |
| China |
Section 631: Prohibits the sale of goods manufactured, assembled, or imported from China at military exchanges and commissaries Section 1205: Requires a yearly public report on the militaries of China, North Korea, Iran, and Russia Sections 1301 and 1309: Require that the China Military Power Report include information on China’s special operations capabilities and engagement with Iran and its proxies Section 1065: Requires a report on Chinese and Russian naval facilities and capabilities in Africa |
Section 1249: Establishes a cross-functional team reporting directly to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense to integrate and coordinate efforts on China, both inside the Defense Department and with interagency partners Section 1247: Requires the Defense Intelligence Agency to establish a program on indications and warning for Indo-Pacific and European adversaries and brief the Congress yearly |
| Taiwan |
Sections 1312 and 1313: Supports Taiwan’s participation in the Rim of the Pacific and other exercises |
Section 1244: States that US policy is to deny a fait accompli against Taiwan to unilaterally change the status quo with Taiwan Section 1245: Expands reporting requirements on Taiwan’s defense capabilities and requires a plan to enhance US assistance and defense cooperation with Taiwan accordingly |
| India |
Section 1304: Requires a report on areas in which US-India defense cooperation can be deepened, including analyses of India’s defense relationships |
Section 1246: Requires a briefing from the Secretary of Defense on opportunities and challenges to expanding defense cooperation with India in eight priority areas |
| Pacific Deterrence Initiative |
Section 1307: Requires the Indo-Pacific Command to submit a report comparing the cost estimates from the Command’s Pacific Deterrence Initiative request to the funding allocated in the budget request |
Section 1241: Requires a comparison of the original budget request from the Indo-Pacific Command with the administration’s budget submission under the Pacific Deterrence Initiative |
| Posture |
Section 1305: Requires a report from the Indo-Pacific Command on enhancing defense cooperation with regional allies and partners in eight priority areas |
Section 1250: Requires a report from the Secretary of Defense on the adequacy of existing military posture agreements in the Indo-Pacific with the goal of supporting a more distributed posture |
| Logistics |
Section 337: Commissions an unclassified public study to examine alternative uses for the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Facility |
Section 316: Authorizes closure of Red Hill bulk storage facility and establishes associated reporting requirements |
| Supply Chains |
Section 1310: Requires unclassified disclosure of whether the Secretary of Defense will list Chinese military companies operating in the United States within 30 days of their disclosure |
Section 847: Requires an annual report from the Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs on industrial base constraints for munitions Section 844: Requires disclosure by contractors of the supply chains involved in any permanent magnets containing rare earth elements or minerals sourced from overseas, especially those involving Chinese military companies |
|
National Technology Industrial Base |
Section 1422: Requires a report on the critical minerals sourced primarily from China and Russia and options for working more closely with the National Technology and Industrial Base |
Section 845: Includes New Zealand in the list of countries comprising the National Technology and Industrial Base |
| Space and Networks |
Section 1602: Requires a public report on the protection of satellites against adversary efforts to target, degrade, or destroy them |
Section 1046: Expands the Indo-Pacific Commanders’ engagement on Joint All Domain Command and Control under the mission management pilot program |
| Nuclear |
Section 1634: Requires a report on the Department of Defense’s approach for deterring theater nuclear employment by China or Russia |
|
| Coast Guard |
Section 1243: Amends the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative by allowing the Coast Guard to receive funds for training and exercises with partners |
|
| Education |
Section 1311: Requires that the Secretary of Defense and Director of National Intelligence publicly identify institutions of higher education domiciled in China that support the Chinese military Section 559: Establishes a Commission on Professional Military Education that is tasked to consider creating specific tracks focused on China, Russia, or other adversaries |
Section 1248: Establishes a pilot program to engage young civilian defense and security leaders from partner countries in the Indo-Pacific |
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