New Defense Bill Mandates Annual Report on China's Arms Sales and Strategy to Counter Them

The “THINK TWICE Act of 2025” is essentially a policy mandate requiring the U.S. government to get serious about tracking and countering China’s growing influence in the global arms market. It’s not about changing your tax bracket or how you commute, but it’s a big deal for national security and the defense industry, which ultimately impacts the economy and foreign policy stability.

The Annual Intelligence Deep Dive

First, the bill requires the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State to team up and deliver an annual, detailed report to Congress on arms sales coming out of the People's Republic of China (PRC). This isn't just a casual list of transactions. This report needs to be a serious intelligence breakdown, analyzing everything from the technical specs of Chinese weapons to how they stack up against U.S.-made gear. Think of it as a mandatory, yearly competitive analysis report, but for high-stakes military hardware.

Crucially, the report must assess which countries are most likely to buy Chinese weapons in the next year, detailing the quantity and cost. For everyday folks, this means the U.S. government will have a much clearer picture of who is buying what, and why—information that is vital for managing foreign relations and preventing the spread of technology that could threaten U.S. interests. The bill specifically requires a classified annex, including assessments from the Director of National Intelligence, focusing on the counterintelligence risks when U.S. allies decide to buy Chinese equipment. This is the fine print that protects our own tech secrets: if an ally uses a Chinese radar system alongside U.S. fighter jets, the report analyzes the risk of that U.S. technology being compromised.

The Counter-Marketing Strategy

The second major part of the bill is the requirement for the Secretary of State to develop a comprehensive strategy, within one year, to actively discourage countries from purchasing new Chinese weapons systems. This is where the rubber meets the road. The U.S. isn't just going to track the sales; it's going to try and stop them.

This strategy must include a robust information campaign warning potential buyers about the risks of Chinese equipment—things like a lack of combat history, poor training support, reliability issues, and, most importantly, that buying Chinese gear could limit their future security cooperation with the U.S. It’s a direct, strategic counter-marketing effort. Furthermore, the strategy must analyze how the U.S. can make its own weapons more appealing, looking at potential reforms to foreign military sales processes to offer better deals or faster delivery. This is good news for the U.S. defense industry, as it forces the government to look for ways to make American products more competitive globally.

The Sanctions Question and Real-World Impact

One provision in Section 4 is particularly noteworthy: the strategy must analyze whether using sanctions, export controls, or other economic restrictions against buyers of new Chinese weapons would be an effective deterrent. While the bill doesn't mandate sanctions, it requires the government to study the option. This means that foreign nations considering a cheap Chinese fighter jet might soon face a difficult choice: save money now, but potentially risk future economic or security ties with the U.S. This is the part that could create diplomatic friction, as sovereign nations might resent being pressured on their defense procurement choices.

Ultimately, the THINK TWICE Act is a clear signal that the U.S. is shifting from passively observing China’s arms exports to actively competing against them. For the average person, this means a more informed, more proactive U.S. foreign policy aimed at maintaining technological and strategic advantage, which is crucial for long-term global stability and security.