Legislation banning everything from Chinese laser-based navigation technology to Chinese garlic has passed the US House of Representatives and is set to become law by the end of the year.
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The House advanced Congress’s annual defence bill, known as the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), on Wednesday by a vote of 281-140. The Senate is expected to vote on the US$884 billion measure by next week before US President Joe Biden signs it into law.
The NDAA, which establishes the top-line budget and directs policy for the Pentagon, is a “must-pass” bill because its enactment is required for members of the military to receive their pay and benefits on time. As a result, provisions not strictly tied to defence often make it into the legislation.
As has been the case in past years, the NDAA for the 2025 fiscal year is ripe with measures related to competing with and countering China.
Among other procurement restrictions, the bill bans the Pentagon from operating or contracting for light detection and ranging (lidar) technology manufactured in or using operating software developed in China.
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“Lidar, a remote sensing technology with both military and civilian applications, stands at the centre of Beijing’s bid for technological superiority,” said the Foundation for the Defence of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank.