OREANDA-NEWS. The House of Representatives of the US Congress approved the draft defense budget for fiscal 2022 with assistance for the Ukrainian army and a statement in support of Taiwan against the background of its conflict with China. The bill was passed on Tuesday evening, December 7, by 363 votes to 70.

The document provides for the allocation of $300 million to support the armed forces of Ukraine, $4 billion for the European defense Initiative and another $150 million for cooperation with the Baltic states in the field of security policy. At the same time, despite strong support in Congress, proposals to impose sanctions on the German-Russian Nord Stream-2 gas pipeline and military service for women were excluded from the package.

With regard to China, the bill provides for the allocation of $7.1 billion for measures to contain China in the Pacific region. The document contains a statement in support of steps to protect Taiwan from the PRC, as well as a ban for the Pentagon to purchase products from China produced as a result of forced labor in the Xinjiang region.

Now the bill goes to the Senate for consideration, and then to US President Joe Biden for approval.