Washington, Dec 19 (NationPress) The US Congress has mandated American agencies to counter what it identifies as “malign activities by the People’s Republic of China in the Indian Ocean region through the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2026, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump.

This legislation, which was enacted on Thursday, establishes an Ambassador-at-Large for the Indian Ocean Region within the State Department. This ambassador's duties include identifying and enhancing US diplomatic and interagency efforts to counteract “malign influence from the People’s Republic of China” in the region and in neighboring countries.

According to the Act, the ambassador is tasked with maintaining coordination and continuity of US diplomatic initiatives and assistance programs across nations in the Indian Ocean region while pinpointing diplomatic, military, economic, and development efforts that are of strategic interest to the US.

The provisions concerning the Indian Ocean are part of a larger Indo-Pacific strategy within the FY26 NDAA, which emphasizes competition with China across military, economic, and strategic domains. The law consistently highlights the necessity of fortifying the US posture, partnerships, and coordination to address regional aggression and malign influences.

Beyond the Indian Ocean provisions, the NDAA incorporates measures to thwart Chinese military enterprises from evading US restrictions via third-party nations. It also mandates heightened oversight and reporting concerning entities associated with the Chinese military, security services, and state-affiliated organizations.

The Act also instructs US agencies to evaluate global competition with China in the civil nuclear realm, encompassing China’s involvement in nuclear fuel markets and its role throughout the nuclear supply chain. These evaluations are to be included in reports to Congress regarding US diplomatic engagements and negotiations concerning civil nuclear cooperation agreements.

Within the broader Indo-Pacific framework, the NDAA authorizes funding for the Pacific Deterrence Initiative, enabling continued investments in military posture, infrastructure, readiness, and capabilities under US Indo-Pacific Command. It also calls for efforts to enhance multilateral defense coordination, increase information-sharing, and boost maritime domain awareness among US allies and partners.

The legislation also urges the development of a strategy to strengthen multilateral defense in the Indo-Pacific by increasing coordination through bilateral and multilateral forums, broadening the scope and scale of military exercises, and improving command-and-control frameworks among partner nations.

While not every provision mentions China, several parts of the Act explicitly refer to the People’s Republic of China as a strategic competitor whose actions necessitate a coordinated US response, especially in the Indo-Pacific and Indian Ocean areas.

Passed annually, the NDAA governs US defense policy, funding levels, and oversight requirements. The FY26 law underscores Congress’s dedication to countering China’s influence and enhancing US diplomatic and security efforts across strategically vital maritime regions, including the Indian Ocean.