[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 114 Introduced in House (IH)]







104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 114

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
   States should support peace and stability in the South China Sea.


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                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 10, 1995

 Mr. Gilman submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
                the Committee on International Relations

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                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
   States should support peace and stability in the South China Sea.

Whereas the South China Sea is a critically important waterway through which 25 
        percent of the world's ocean freight and 70 percent of Japan's energy 
        supplies transit;
Whereas the South China Sea serves as a crucial sea lane for United States Navy 
        ships moving between the Pacific and Indian Oceans, particularly in time 
        of emergency;
Whereas there are a number of competing claims to territory in the South China 
        Sea;
Whereas the 1992 Manila Declaration adhered to by the Association of South East 
        Asian Nations, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the People's 
        Republic of China calls for all claimants to territory in the South 
        China Sea to resolve questions of boundaries through peaceful 
        negotiations;
Whereas the legislature of the People's Republic of China has declared the 
        entire South China Sea to be Chinese territorial waters;
Whereas the armed forces of the People's Republic of China have asserted China's 
        claim to the South China Sea through the kidnapping of citizens of the 
        Republic of the Philippines and the construction of military bases on 
        territory claimed by the Philippines; and
Whereas these acts of aggression committed by the armed forces of the People's 
        Republic of China against citizens of the Philippines are contrary to 
        both international law and to peace and stability in East Asia: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) declares the right of free passage through the South 
        China Sea to be in the national security interests of the 
        United States, its friends, and allies;
            (2) declares that any attempt by a nondemocratic power to 
        assert, through the use of force or intimidation, its claims to 
        territory in the South China Sea to be a matter of grave 
        concern to the United States;
            (3) calls upon the Government of the People's Republic of 
        China to adhere faithfully to its commitment under the Manila 
        Declaration of 1992; and
            (4) calls upon the President of the United States to review 
        the defense needs of democratic countries with claims to 
        territory in the South China Sea.
                                 <all>