The bill authorizes $15.5 billion for the U.S. Pacific Deterrence Initiative to counter China and $300 million in military assistance to Taiwan.

The defense authorization bill, which directs Pentagon policy, provides a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted service members and a 4.5% increase for others.

President Joe Biden has signed into law an annual defense policy bill that calls for maintaining some 28,500 American troops in South Korea and reaffirming the United States' deterrence commitment to the Asian ally,