South Mongolia Congress – Official Statement
On the Enactment of the U.S. Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)
The South Mongolia Congress warmly welcomes the enactment of the U.S. Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA), signed into law by the President of the United States, which includes historic and unprecedented provisions addressing the situation in South Mongolia (referred to by the Chinese government as “Inner Mongolia”).
The Act mandates the establishment of an Inner Mongolia Team within the U.S. Mission in China, constituting the first official and institutional framework for the continuous monitoring, reporting, and engagement on the political, social, and human rights conditions of South Mongolia. This clearly demonstrates that the South Mongolia issue has entered a new stage of international recognition.
Of particular significance is the explicit provision calling for the employment of local Southern Mongolians and the prioritization of Mongolian language capacity. This provision institutionally respects the perspectives, language, and historical context of the people of South Mongolia and is essential for accurately conveying realities on the ground to the international community. It represents an important step toward transforming the South Mongolia issue from one spoken about externally into an international issue grounded in the voices of those directly affected.
Furthermore, the South Mongolia Congress highly values that the Act does not limit its scope solely to the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region as an administrative unit, but explicitly includes other Mongolian autonomous areas designated by the People’s Republic of China.
Since its establishment, the South Mongolia Congress has consistently defined South Mongolia as encompassing not only the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, but also surrounding autonomous prefectures and counties where Mongolians have historically lived and continue to live today. The enacted U.S. law fully aligns with this definition, demonstrating that it is based on an accurate understanding of the realities of South Mongolia.
The enactment of this law represents the culmination of years of sustained advocacy and international coordination by the Southern Mongolian Human Rights Information Center (SMHRIC) and Southern Mongolian diaspora communities in the United States and around the world. It also reflects the important contributions of visible South Mongolia-related activities in various countries, including Japan, engagement with members of the U.S. Congress and government, and the role played by the Parliamentary Group Supporting South Mongolia in Japan.
The South Mongolia Congress strongly expects the United States Government to fully, promptly, and effectively implement the South Mongolia-related provisions of the NDAA. We are confident that this law will accurately convey the situation in South Mongolia to the international community and become a long-term and reliable force supporting the movement for freedom, dignity, and democracy for the people of South Mongolia.
December 2025
South Mongolia Congress
Temtselt Shovchuud, President
Daichin Olhunud, Co-Chair