ChinaTalk Second Breakfast: Habemus NDAA!
Dec 12, 2025
The hosts delve into the intricacies of the NDAA and its implications, discussing topics like AUKUS, Taiwan's support in IMF, and the role of DFC in countering adversarial capital. They explore the ethical dilemmas of super-soldier technologies and unpack enthralling topics such as icebreaker procurement and Arctic diplomacy. A hilarious pitch for a dark sitcom about deposed dictators spices up the conversation, alongside insights into elite corruption and the complexities of U.S.-China tech investment dynamics.
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Episode notes
NDAA Is A Policy Megabundle
- The NDAA is the annual policy vehicle that bundles everything from commissary rules to contested logistics across authorizers and appropriators.
- Authorizers set policy while appropriators control funding, producing frequent mismatches between intent and resources.
DFC Reauthorization Reinforces Adversarial Capital Tools
- The DFC (Development Finance Corporation) got reauthorized to keep using loans and equity to counter adversarial capital globally.
- DFC can crowd into cap tables to blunt state-led investments by competitors like PRC state firms.
OSC Gains Fee Authority To Scale Deals
- The Office of Strategic Capital can now collect transaction fees like other federal credit programs, expanding its deal capacity.
- That change lowers operating costs and potentially scales OSC's ability to finance industrial projects.
