[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 97 Reported in Senate (RS)]

                                                       Calendar No. 129
104th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 97

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to peace and stability 
                        in the South China Sea.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

               March 30 (legislative day, March 27), 1995

   Mr. Thomas (for himself, Mr. Robb, Mr. Simon, Mrs. Feinstein, Mr. 
 McCain, Mr. Simpson, Mr. Kerry, Mr. Lugar, Mr. Roth, Mr. Inouye, Mr. 
Lieberman, Mr. Pell, and Mr. Helms) submitted the following resolution; 
        which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

                June 20 (legislative day, June 19), 1995

Reported by Mr. Helms, with amendments and an amendment to the preamble
  [Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to peace and stability 
                        in the South China Sea.
Whereas the South China Sea is a strategically important waterway through which 
        transits approximately 25 percent of the World's ocean freight, 
        including almost 70 percent of Japan's oil supply;
Whereas the South China Sea serves as a crucial sea lane for naval vessels of 
        the United States and other countries, especially in times of emergency;
Whereas the People's Republic of China, the Republic of the Philippines, the 
        Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of China on Taiwan, the 
        State of Brunei Darussalam, and Malaysia have overlapping and mutually 
        exclusive claims to portions of the South China Sea, especially in the 
        Spratly Island group;
Whereas some of the nations which have claims to portions of the South China Sea 
        are modernizing their military forces, strengthening their ability to 
        project power outside their domestic boundaries, and consequently, are 
        altering the strategic balance of power in the region;
Whereas this power projection capability further drives the concern of nations 
        with territorial claims over acts of aggression in the South China Sea 
        by other nations with claims;
Whereas these competing claims have led to armed conflicts between several of 
        the claimants;
Whereas these conflicts threaten the peace and stability of all of East Asia; 
        and
Whereas the 1992 Manila Declaration of the Association of South East Asian 
        Nations, also recognized by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the 
        People's Republic of China, calls on the claimants to exercise restraint 
        and seek a peaceful negotiated solution to the conflicts: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) <DELETED>urges the executive branch to reiterate</DELETED> 
        reiterates to the claimants in the South China Sea that the 
        United States does not take a position on any individual claim;
            (2) calls upon all of the claimants to refrain from using 
        military force or similarly aggressive action to assert or 
        expand territorial claims in the South China Sea;
            (3) urges the executive branch to declare the active 
        support of the United States for the 1992 Manila Declaration of 
        the Association of South East Asian Nations, and calls upon all 
        the claimants to observe faithfully its provisions; and
            <DELETED>(4) calls upon the claimants to scrupulously 
        observe the January, 1995 status quo ante pending any 
        negotiations or resolution of the conflicts between such 
        claimants over such claims.
        </DELETED>    (4) would view with profound concern and 
        disapproval any maritime claim or restriction on maritime 
        activity in the South China Sea not strictly consistent with 
        international law.
                                                       Calendar No. 129

104th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                               S. RES. 97

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to peace and stability 
                        in the South China Sea.

_______________________________________________________________________

                June 20 (legislative day, June 19), 1995

       Reported with amendments and an amendment to the preamble