Thayer Consultancy Background Report:

ABN # 65 648 097 123

U.S. National Defense
Authorization Act FY 2019
Carlyle A. Thayer
August 4, 2018

We request your assessment of the National Defense Authorization Act 2019 that
U.S. Congress approved on August 1st.
Q1- The tone of the bill seems to be tougher on China, especially with reference to
its militarization activities in South China Sea. Do you think there will be a big change
to Washington's approach in the region?
ANSWER: THE NDAA FY2019 includes a section on the Indo-Pacific that is
summarized in the Appendix at the end of this Background Briefing. The NDAA
mandates general initiatives that China will find unpalatable, a whole-of-government
strategy on China, and specific reporting requirements.
Two general initiatives are worth noting. First, the Indo-Pacific Command is to
increase the forward presence, capabilities an dposture of U.S. armed forces in the
Indo-Pacific Region including the India Ocean. Second, the Pentagon is to contract an
independent entity to provide a geo-political assessment if activities affecting U.S.
security interests in the Indo-Pacific Region.
The NDAA FY 2019 mandates stepping up defence and security assistance to Taiwan
including the sale of defensive weapons, practical training and military exercises, and
exchanges by high-level defence officials and general officers. China will find this
most objectionable.
Finally, the NDAA FY 2019 adopts four measures directly aimed at China. The first
measue, prohibits China’s participation in the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC)
on three conditions (1) cessation of land reclamation in the South China Sea, (2)
removal of weapons from China’s artificial islands and (3) certification that China has
observed these conditions for a period of four years.
The second measure mandates news and detailed reporting requirements be added
to the Pentagon’s annual report to Congress on China’s military and security
developments. For example, the revised report must include details of China’s
overseas basing and infrastructure, political influence operations, etc.
The third measures measure mandates as a top priority a whole-of-government
strategy towards China as a long-term strategic competitor of the United States.
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The fourth measure required the Department of Defense to prepare detailed and
specifics report on China’s coercive activities in the South China Sea.
Q2- Some US lawmakers say this is the toughest defense policy bill to counter China
in US history. Do you agree?
ANSWER It should be recalled that eight years ago China raised “three obstacles” in
its relations with the United States: arms sales to Taiwan, close-in reconnaissance in
China’s Exclusive Economic Zone, and restrictions contained in the National Defense
Authorization Act Fiscal Year 2000 (NDAA FY 2000). This legislation prohibited the
Secretary of Defense from authorizing any military-to-military contact with the PLA if
that contact would “create a national security risk due to an inappropriate exposure”
of the PLA to any of the following twelve areas: force projection operations, nuclear
operations, advanced combined-arms and joint combat operations, advanced
logistical operations, chemical and biological and other capabilities related to
weapons of mass destruction, surveillance and reconnaissance operations, and joint
warfighting experiments.
The NDAA 2019 is much broader in its coverage. In addition to the fourteen areas of
military concern discussed above, the NDAA FY2019 also addressed Chinese political
attempts to influence the American public through influence operations directed at
the media, cultural institutions, business and academic and policy communities. For
example, funding is provided for Chinese language but this funding is restricted to
U.S. universities that host China’s Confucius Institutes. The NDAA FY2019 also
strengthens the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States. This
Committee monitors Chinese investment; now the Committee is directed to weigh
the impact of Chinese investment on U.S. national security interests.
Q3- The bill bans China's participation in US-led naval exercises Rim of the Pacific
until Beijing stops its militarization activities in South China Sea. Does this provision
send any message?
ANSWER: Most definitely. This provision of the NDAA FY2019 was designed to
reassure U.S. allies, partners and other countries in the IPR that the United States
was concerned about Chinese militarization. The ban on Chinese participation in
RIMPAC will remain in place until China halts all land reclamation activities and
removes offensive weapons from its artificial islands. This is unlikely to occur so the
legal ban will stay in place indefinitely. As noted above, the U.S. Defense Department
will be required to report annually to Congress on any new development of Chinese
military facilities and new weapons.

Suggested citation: Carlyle A. Thayer, “U.S. National Defense Authorization Act FY
2019,” Thayer Consultancy Background Report, August 4, 2018. All background briefs
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Thayer Consultancy provides political analysis of current regional security issues and
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APPENDIX
Summary of Subtitle E—Matters relating to the Indo-Pacific region
Sec. 1251. Name of United States Indo-Pacific Command.
The U.S. Pacific Command is renamed the Indo-Pacific Command.
Sec. 1252. Redesignation, expansion, and extension of Southeast Asia Maritime
Security Initiative.
The Southeast Asia Maritime Initiative is renamed the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security
Initiative and extended to cover the Indian Ocean, assistance and training is
extended to Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, and India is made eligible for payment of
incremental expenses.
Sec. 1253. Redesignation and modification of sense of Congress and initiative for
the Indo-Asia-Pacific region.
The Indo-Asia-Pacific (NDAA FY 2018) is renamed Indo-Pacific. The initiative for the
Indo-Pacific is to increase the rotational and forward presence, improve the
capabilities, and enhance the posture of the United States Armed Forces; to improve
military and defense infrastructure, basing, logistics, and assured access to enhance
the responsiveness, survivability, and operational resilience of the United States
Armed Forces; to enhance the storage and pre-positioning of equipment and
munitions of the United States Armed Forces; and bilateral and multilateral military
training and exercises with allies and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Secretary of Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of States, shall submit
to the appropriate congressional committees a future years plan on activities and
resources of the initiative not later than March 1, 2019. The plan shall apply to the
Initiative with respect to FY 2020 and at least the four succeeding fiscal years.
The plan required under paragraph (1) shall include each of the following:
(A) A description of the objectives of the Initiative.
(B) A description of the manner in which such objectives support
implementation of the National Defense Strategy and reduce the risk of
execution of the contingency plans of the Department of Defense by
improving the operational resilience of United States forces in the Indo-
Pacific region.
(C) An assessment of the resource requirements to achieve such objectives.
(D) An assessment of any additional rotational or permanently stationed
United States forces in the Indo-Pacific region required to achieve such
objectives.
(E) An assessment of the logistics requirements, including force enablers,
equipment, supplies, storage, and maintenance, to achieve such objectives.
(F) An identification and assessment of required infrastructure investments
to achieve such objectives including potential infrastructure investments by
host countries and new construction or upgrades of existing sites that would
be funded by the United States.
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(G) An assessment of any new agreements, or changes to existing

agreements, with other countries for assured access required to achieve such
objectives.
(H) An assessment of security cooperation investments required to achieve
such objectives.
Sec. 1254. Assessment of and report on geopolitical conditions in the Indo-Pacific
region.
(1) In general.-
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall select and enter into an agreement with an entity independent of the
Department of Defense to conduct an assessment of the geopolitical conditions in
the Indo-Pacific region that are necessary for the successful implementation of the
National Defense Strategy.
(2) Matters to be included
The assessment required by paragraph (1) shall include a determination of the
geopolitical conditions in the Indo-Pacific region, including any change in economic
and political relations, that are necessary to support United States military
requirements for forward defense, assured access, extensive forward basing, and
alliance and partnership formation and strengthening in such region.
(b) Report
Not later than 270 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the independent
entity selected under subsection (a) shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the results of the assessment conducted under that subsection.
(c) Department of Defense support
The Secretary shall provide the independent entity selected under subsection (a)
with timely access to appropriate information, data, resources, and analyses
necessary for the independent entity to conduct the assessment required by that
subsection in a thorough and independent manner.
(d) Appropriate committees of Congress defined In this section, the term appropriate
committees of Congress means—
(1) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations of the
Senate; and
(2) the Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the
House of Representatives.
Sec. 1255. Sense of Congress on extended nuclear deterrence in the Indo-Pacific
region.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the nuclear program of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea poses a critical
national security threat not only to the United States, but to the security and stability
of the entire Indo-Pacific region, including South Korea, Japan, and Australia;
 6

(2) the nuclear and conventional forces of the United States continue to play a
fundamental role in deterring aggression against its interests and the interests of its
allies in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond;
(3) the United States stands unwaveringly behind its treaty obligations and
assurances, including those related to defense and extended nuclear deterrence, to
South Korea, Japan, and Australia;
(4) the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Democratic
People’s Republic of Korea remains a central foreign policy objective of the United
States;
(5) the status of any denuclearization or end-of-conflict agreement with the
Democratic People’s Republic of Korea should not supersede such treaty obligations
and assurances described in paragraph (3); and
(6) the presence of United States Forces on the Korean Peninsula should remain
strong and enduring.
Sec. 1256. Reinstatement of reporting requirements with respect to United States-
Hong Kong relations.
The report on US-Hong Kong relations shall be submitted not later than March 31,
2019, and annually thereafter through 2024, in unclassified form to the Committee
on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives, and shall be published on a publicly available website of the
Department of State.
Sec. 1257. Strengthening Taiwan’s force readiness.
The Secretary of Defense shall, in consultation with appropriate counterparts of
Taiwan, conduct a comprehensive assessment of Taiwan’s military forces,
particularly Taiwan’s reserves. The assessment shall provide recommendations to
improve the efficiency, effectiveness, readiness, and resilience of Taiwan’s self-
defense capability in the following areas:
(1) Personnel management and force development, particularly reserve
forces.
(2) Recruitment, training, and military programs.
(3) Command, control, communications and intelligence.
(4) Technology research and development.
(5) Defense article procurement and logistics.
(6) Strategic planning and resource management.
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense, in consultation with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the Committee
on Foreign Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate and the
Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of
Representatives a report containing each of the following:
(A) A summary of the assessment conducted pursuant to subsection (a).
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(B) A list of any recommendations resulting from such assessment.

(C) A plan for the United States, including by using appropriate security
cooperation authorities, to—
(i) facilitate any relevant recommendations from such list;
(ii) expand senior military-to-military engagement and joint training
by the United States Armed Forces with the military of Taiwan; and
(iii) support United States foreign military sales and other equipment
transfers to Taiwan, particularly for developing asymmetric warfare
capabilities.
Sec. 1258. Sense of Congress on Taiwan.
It is the sense of Congress that—
(1) the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) and the Six Assurances are both
cornerstones of United States relations with Taiwan;
(2) the United States should strengthen defense and security cooperation with
Taiwan to support the development of capable, ready, and modern defense forces
necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability;
(3) the United States should strongly support the acquisition by Taiwan of defensive
weapons through foreign military sales, direct commercial sales, and industrial
cooperation, with a particular emphasis on asymmetric warfare and undersea
warfare capabilities, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act;
(4) the United States should improve the predictability of arms sales to Taiwan by
ensuring timely review of and response to requests of Taiwan for defense articles
and defense services;
(5) the Secretary of Defense should promote Department of Defense policies
concerning exchanges that enhance the security of Taiwan, including—
(A) opportunities for practical training and military exercises with Taiwan;
and
(B) exchanges between senior defense officials and general officers of the
United States and Taiwan consistent with the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law
115–135);
(6) the United States and Taiwan should expand cooperation in humanitarian
assistance and disaster relief; and
(7) the Secretary of Defense should consider supporting the visit of a United States
hospital ship to Taiwan as part of the annual Pacific Partnership mission in order to
improve disaster response planning and preparedness as well as to strengthen
cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.
Sec. 1259. Prohibition on participation of the People’s Republic of China in Rim of
the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercises.
(1) In general
 8

The Secretary of Defense shall not enable or facilitate the participation of the
People’s Republic of China in any Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) naval exercise unless
the Secretary certifies to the congressional defense committees that China has—
(A) ceased all land reclamation activities in the South China Sea;
(B) removed all weapons from its land reclamation sites; and
(C) established a consistent four-year track record of taking actions toward
stabilizing the region.
(2) Form
The certification under paragraph (1) shall be in unclassified form but may contain a
classified annex as necessary.
(b) National security waiver
(1) In general
The Secretary of Defense may waive the certification requirement under
subsection (a) if the Secretary determines the waiver is in the national
security interest of the United States and submits to the congressional
defense committees a detailed justification for the waiver.
(2) Form
The justification required under paragraph (1) shall be in unclassified form
but may contain a classified annex as necessary.
Sec. 1260. Modification of annual report on military and security developments
involving the People’s Republic of China.
Section 1202(b) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (10
U.S.C. 113 note) is amended to include reporting on:
• China’s overseas military basing and logistics infrastructure;
• espionage and technology transfers through investment, industrial
espionage, cybertheft, academia, and other means;
• an assessment of relations between China and the Russian Federation with
respect to security and military matters;
• the relationship between Chinese overseas investment, including initiatives
such as the Belt and road Initiative, and Chinese security and military strategy
objectives
• Efforts by the Government of the People's Republic of China to influence the
media, cultural institutions, business, and academic and policy communities
of the United States to be more favorable to its security and military strategy
and objectives.
• Efforts by the Government of the People's Republic of China to use
nonmilitary tools in other countries, including diplomacy and political
coercion, information operations, and economic pressure, including
predatory lending practices, to support its security and military objectives.
Sec. 1261. United States strategy on China.
(a) Statement of policy
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Congress declares that long-term strategic competition with China is a principal

priority for the United States that requires the integration of multiple elements of
national power, including diplomatic, economic, intelligence, law enforcement, and
military elements, to protect and strengthen national security.
(b) Strategy required
(1) In general
Not later than March 1, 2019, the President shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report containing a whole-of-government strategy with
respect to the People’s Republic of China.
(2) Elements of strategy
The strategy required by paragraph (1) shall include the following:
(A) Strategic assessments of and planned responses to address the following
activities by the Chinese Communist Party:
(i) The use of political influence, information operations, censorship, and
propaganda to undermine democratic institutions and processes, and the
freedoms of speech, expression, press, and academic thought.
(ii) The use of intelligence networks to exploit open research and
development.
(iii) The use of economic tools, including market access and investment to
gain access to sensitive United States industries.
(iv) Malicious cyber activities.
(v) The use of investment, infrastructure, and development projects, such as
China’s Belt and Road Initiative, in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, South
America, and the Indo-Pacific region, and the Polar Silk Road in the Arctic, as
a means to gain access and influence.
(vi) The use of military activities, capabilities, and defense installations, and
hybrid warfare methods, short of traditional armed conflict, against the
United States or its allies and partners.
(B) Available or planned methods to enhance strategic communication to counter
Chinese influence and promote United States interests.
(C) An identification of the key diplomatic, development, intelligence, military, and
economic resources necessary to implement the strategy.
(D) A plan to maximize the coordination and effectiveness of such resources to
counter the threats posed by the activities described in subparagraph (A).
(E) Available or planned interagency mechanisms for the coordination and
implementation of the strategy.
(3) Form
The report required by paragraph (1) shall be submitted in unclassified form, but
may include a classified annex.
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(4) Annual budget submission

The President shall ensure that the annual budget submitted to Congress pursuant
to section 1105 of title 31, United States Code, clearly highlights the programs and
projects proposed to be funded that relate to the strategy required by paragraph (1).
(5) Appropriate congressional committees
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Finance, the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, the Committee on the Judiciary, the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and the Committee on the
Budget of the Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Financial Services,
the Committee on Homeland Security, the Committee on the Judiciary, the
Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Committee on the Budget of the
House of Representatives.
Sec. 1262. Report on military and coercive activities of the People’s Republic of
China in South China Sea.
(a) In general
Except as provided in subsection (d), immediately after the commencement of any
significant reclamation, assertion of an excessive territorial claim, or militarization
activity by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea, including any
significant military deployment or operation or infrastructure construction, the
Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, shall submit to the
appropriate congressional committees, and release to the public, a report on the
military and coercive activities of China in the South China Sea in connection with
such activity.
(b) Elements of report to public
Each report on the commencement of a significant reclamation, an assertion of an
excessive territorial claim, or a militarization activity under subsection (a) shall
include a short narrative on, and one or more corresponding images of, such
commencement of a significant reclamation, assertion of an excessive territorial
claim, or militarization activity.
(c) Form
(1) Submission to Congress
Any report under subsection (a) that is submitted to the appropriate congressional
committees shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified
annex.
(2) Release to public
If a report under subsection (a) is released to the public, such report shall be so
released in unclassified form.
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(d) Waiver
(1) Release of report to public
The Secretary of Defense may waive the requirement in subsection (a) for the
release to the public of a report on the commencement of any significant
reclamation, an assertion of an excessive territorial claim, or a militarization activity
by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea if the Secretary determines
that the release to the public of a report on such activity under that subsection in the
form required by subsection (c)(2) would have an adverse effect on the national
security interests of the United States.
(2) Notice to Congress
If the Secretary issues a waiver under paragraph (1) with respect to a report on an
activity, not later than 48 hours after the Secretary issues such waiver, the Secretary
shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees written notice of, and
justification for, such waiver.
(e) Appropriate congressional committees defined
In this section, the term appropriate congressional committees means—
(1) the congressional defense committees; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 1263. Requirement for critical languages and expertise in Chinese, Korean,
Russian, Farsi, and Arabic.
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall—
(1) evaluate the operational requirements for members of the Armed Forces
possessing foreign language expertise in critical languages, including Chinese,
Korean, Russian, Farsi, and Arabic; and
(2) submit to the congressional defense committees a plan to address any shortfalls
in these critical areas.
Sec. 1264. Limitation on use of funds to reduce the total number of members of the
Armed Forces serving on active duty who are deployed to the Republic of Korea.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act may be used to reduce
the total number of members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty who are
deployed to the Republic of Korea below 22,000 unless the Secretary of Defense first
certifies to the congressional defense committees the following:
(1) Such a reduction is in the national security interest of the United States and will
not significantly undermine the security of United States allies in the region.
(2) The Secretary has appropriately consulted with allies of the United States,
including the Republic of Korea and Japan, regarding such a reduction.
Sec. 1265. Reports on nuclear capabilities of the Democratic People’s Republic of
Korea.
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(a) Baseline report

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, the Secretary of
State, and the Secretary of Energy, shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the status of the nuclear program of the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea to establish a baseline of progress for negotiations with the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea with respect to denuclearization.
(b) Elements
The report required by subsection (a) shall include the following, to the extent
known or suspected:
(1) A description of the location, quantity, capability, and operational status of the
nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and
biological weapons, of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(2) A description of the location of the research, development, production, and
testing facilities, including covert facilities, for the nuclear weapons and other
weapons of mass destruction, including chemical and biological weapons, of the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(3) A description of the location, quantity, capability, and operational status of fixed
ballistic missile launch sites, and assessments of capability and readiness of mobile
land and at-sea launch platforms of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(4) A description of the location of the ballistic missile manufacturing and assembly
facilities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(5) An assessment of any intelligence gaps and confidence levels with respect to the
information required by this subsection and verification or inspection measures that
may fill such gaps.
(c) Updates
(1) In general
In the case of an agreement, not later than 60 days after the date on which the
agreement is reached, and every 90 days thereafter, the report required by
subsection (a) shall be augmented by a written update.
(2) Elements
Each written update under paragraph (1) shall include the following for the
preceding 90-day period:
(A) A description of the number of nuclear weapons, other weapons of mass
destruction, including chemical and biological weapons, and ballistic missiles
verifiably dismantled, destroyed, rendered permanently unusable, or transferred out
of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(B) An identification of the location of research, development, production, and
testing facilities for nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction,
including chemical and biological weapons, in the Democratic People's Republic of
 13

Korea identified and verifiably dismantled, destroyed, or rendered permanently

unusable.
(C) An identification of the location of ballistic missile manufacturing and assembly
facilities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea verifiably dismantled,
destroyed, or rendered permanently unusable.
(D) A description of the number of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles that remain
in or under the control of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(E) An assessment of the progress made in extending the breakout period required
for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to reconstitute its nuclear weapons
program and build a nuclear weapon, as such progress relates to the information
required by subparagraphs (A) through (D).
(d) Verification assessment report
Not later than 180 days after the date on which the report required by subsection (a)
is submitted, and every 180 days thereafter, the written update required under
paragraph (1) of subsection (c) shall include, in addition to the information required
by subparagraphs (A) through (E) of that subsection, the following for the preceding
180-day period:
(1) An assessment of the establishment of safeguards, other control mechanisms,
and other assurances secured from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to
ensure the activities of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea permitted under
any agreement will not be used to further any nuclear-related military or nuclear
explosive purpose, including research on or development of a nuclear explosive
device.
(2) An assessment of the capacity of the United States or an international
organization, including the International Atomic Energy Agency, to effectively access
and investigate suspicious sites in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea or
allegations of covert nuclear-related activities, including storage sites for nuclear
weapons.
(e) Applicability
Subsections (c) and (d) shall apply only in the case of an agreement.
(f) Sunset
The section shall cease to be effective on the date that is three years after the date
of the enactment of this Act.
(g) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Agreement
The term agreement means an interim or final agreement between the United States
and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea with respect to the denuclearization
of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea that includes a commitment by the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea—
(A) to reduce the nuclear arsenal of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea; or
 14

(B) to otherwise discontinue, reduce, or suspend the nuclear program of the

Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
(2) Appropriate committees of Congress
The term appropriate committees of Congress means—
(A) the Committee on Armed Services, the Select Committee on Intelligence, the
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
Senate; and
(B) the Committee on Armed Services, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Sec. 1266. Modification of report required under enhancing defense and security
cooperation with India.
Subsection (a)(2) of section 1292 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2559; 22 U.S.C. 2751 note) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘Not later than’’ and inserting the following:
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL .—Not later than’’;
(2) by inserting ‘‘until December 31, 2021’’ after ‘‘annually thereafter’’; and
(3) by striking the second sentence and inserting the following:
‘‘(B) CONTENTS .—The report shall also include—
‘‘(i) a forward-looking strategy with specific benchmarks for measurable
progress toward enhancing India’s status as a major defense partner and
defense and security cooperation with India;
‘‘(ii) a description of any limitations that hinder or slows progress in
implementing the actions described in subparagraphs (A) through (L) of
paragraph (1);
‘‘(iii) a description of actions India is taking, or the actions the Secretary of
Defense or the Secretary relationship between the United States, including
actions relating to subparagraphs (A) through (L) of bparagraph (1);
‘‘(iv) a description of the measures that can be taken by the United States
and India to improve interoperability; and
‘‘(v) a description of the progress made in enabling agreements between
the United States and India.’’.