A provision led by U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) was signed into law by President Trump Thursday. The provisions would strengthen America’s deterrence against China.
“My provisions will keep our military focused on what matters – military readiness and combatting our greatest threat, China,” said Johnson. “America’s military is the strongest in the world and I’m grateful this year’s annual defense bill prioritizes our fighting force.”
Johnson’s amendment directs the Department of War to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to strengthen defense industrial cooperation with U.S. allies and partners across the Indo-Pacific region. It aims to move beyond limited prior directives by identifying concrete actions and priority systems to enable deeper joint development, production, and sustainment.
It is important to both reinforce ongoing efforts with Taiwan while expanding the scope of cooperation to encompass the broader region. China’s sphere of influence does not stop with Taiwan, and the U.S. must pursue a more comprehensive, region-wide strategy in response.
Johnson introduced this provision as an amendment to the NDAA, which was adopted and included. The measure also aligns with broader congressional efforts to counter China’s military modernization and coercive activities across the Indo-Pacific. As implementation begins, defense officials are expected to outline timelines and benchmarks for expanding cooperation with regional partners.
