[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 626 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 626

  Recognizing the importance of the United States-Japan alliance and 
   welcoming the visit of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the United 
                                States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 8, 2024

 Mr. Cardin (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Hagerty, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Van 
 Hollen, and Mr. Romney) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Recognizing the importance of the United States-Japan alliance and 
   welcoming the visit of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the United 
                                States.

Whereas the United States-Japan alliance remains a cornerstone of peace, 
        security, and prosperity and underscores the unwavering commitment of 
        United States to Japan and the Indo-Pacific region;
Whereas the United States and Japan established diplomatic relations with the 
        signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity on March 31, 1854;
Whereas January 19, 2024, marked the 64th anniversary of the signing of the 
        Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and 
        Japan;
Whereas, in May 2016, then-President Barack Obama made a historic visit to 
        Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park, and in December 2016, then-Prime Minister 
        Abe Shinzo made a historic visit to Pearl Harbor, demonstrating the 
        willingness both nations to overcome the most sensitive aspects of our 
        shared history to form the powerful alliance that exists today;
Whereas, during the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee (2+2) on January 
        11, 2023, both countries resolved to advance bilateral alliance 
        modernization initiatives to build a more capable, integrated, and agile 
        alliance that bolsters deterrence and addresses evolving regional and 
        global security challenges;
Whereas, under the premiership of Kishida Fumio, the Government of Japan has 
        taken historic steps to modernize Japan's national security strategy and 
        defense policy through the release of the 2022 National Security 
        Strategy, the National Defense Strategy, and Defense Buildup Program, 
        including commitments to increase defense spending to 2 percent of GDP 
        within 5 years and to develop counterstrike capabilities;
Whereas the United States and Japan have deepened their defense cooperation 
        through various bilateral and multilateral exercises and across domains 
        that include space and cyber;
Whereas the Government of Japan shares the costs of stationing approximately 
        55,000 members of the United States Armed Forces, civilians, and family 
        members in Japan, and enables the United States to forward deploy 
        significant military resources such as the USS Ronald Reagan and the F-
        35 Joint Strike Fighter, to meet the alliance's current and future 
        security challenges;
Whereas the United States extended deterrence commitments to Japan remain 
        ironclad and backed by the full range of United States capabilities;
Whereas the Senkaku Islands fall within the scope of Article V of the U.S.-Japan 
        Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security;
Whereas a strong trilateral relationship between and among the United States, 
        the Republic of Korea, and Japan is vital for promoting Indo-Pacific 
        security, defending freedom and democracy, and upholding human rights 
        and rule of law;
Whereas, in August 2023, Japan Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, Republic of Korea 
        President Yoon Suk Yeol, and United States President Joseph R. Biden 
        announced a ``new era of trilateral partnership'' at the Camp David 
        Summit, including a ``commitment to consult'' in an expeditious manner 
        regarding regional challenges, provocations, and threats affecting 
        trilateral collective interests and security;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea have deepened mutual 
        cooperation and dialogue in a series of fields, including--

    (1) the trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue;

    (2) the expansion of a multi-year schedule for trilateral military 
exercises, including the first-ever trilateral aerial exercise;

    (3) the activation of the real-time Democratic People's Republic of 
Korea (DPRK) missile warning data sharing mechanism;

    (4) the establishment of new trilateral people-to-people exchanges, 
including a trilateral youth summit and a technology leaders training 
program; and

    (5) the creation of a trilateral Diplomatic Working Group to counter 
cyber threats posed by the DPRK;

Whereas the trilateral partnership currently faces a unique opportunity to drive 
        shared priorities at the United Nations Security Council, while both 
        Japan and the Republic of Korea serve as nonpermanent representatives;
Whereas, in May 2023, during the G7 Hiroshima Summit, G7 leaders underscored 
        their enduring support for Ukraine's sovereignty, reaffirmed the 
        importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, took steps to 
        secure critical supply chains, demonstrated ongoing commitments to 
        strengthening global health security, and more;
Whereas Japan continues to work closely with the United States and other G7 
        partners to stand against economic coercion by adversaries, including 
        through the establishment of the G7 Coordination Platform on Economic 
        Coercion;
Whereas, since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified invasion of 
        Ukraine, Japan has demonstrated its strong support for Ukraine, 
        including through high-level diplomatic engagements, humanitarian and 
        security assistance, financial support, and coordinating sanctions 
        against Russia with the United States and other G7 countries;
Whereas, in February 2024, Japan hosted the Japan-Ukraine Conference for 
        Promotion of Economic Growth and Reconstruction, which facilitated 
        cooperation between Japan and Ukraine, including public-private 
        partnerships, to support Ukraine's future development across sectors, 
        including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and information 
        technology, and announced the opening of a new government trade office 
        in Kyiv, as well as $105,000,000 in new aid for Ukraine;
Whereas Japan has contributed to supporting the Indo-Pacific region's 
        development, stability, and prosperity through the Quad's positive, 
        practical agenda with the United States, Australia, and India, including 
        through the third in-person Quad Leaders' Summit in May 2023, where Quad 
        members reaffirmed their commitment to a ``free and open Indo-Pacific 
        that is inclusive and resilient'';
Whereas Japan has worked with the members of the Quad to strengthen cooperation 
        on health security, environment, maritime domain awareness, critical and 
        emerging technologies, space, infrastructure development, cyber 
        resilience, and more;
Whereas Japan has contributed to the promotion of quality infrastructure 
        investment, and the United States and Japan continue to share an 
        interest in energy security and cooperation on advanced energy 
        technologies;
Whereas Japan has made critical contributions to the development of Open Radio 
        Access Network (O-RAN) technology and worked closely with the United 
        States to promote an open, free, interoperable, reliable, and secure 
        internet, including through initiatives such as the Global Digital 
        Connectivity Partnership;
Whereas, in June 2023, Japan joined the United States and Australia in signing 
        an agreement to develop a $95,000,000 undersea cable project that is 
        expected to connect more than 100,000 individuals across three countries 
        in the Pacific;
Whereas Japan is one of the largest trading partners of the United States, with 
        bilateral trade totaling over $300,000,000,000 in 2022, and Japan 
        continues to hold the largest share of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) 
        in the United States, making the United States-Japan bilateral economic 
        relationship one of the world's strongest;
Whereas, during an official visit in November 2017 to Japan, President Donald J. 
        Trump underscored the importance of expanding trade and foreign direct 
        investment between the United States and Japan to strengthen economic 
        growth and job creation, and on October 7, 2019, the Governments of the 
        United States and Japan signed the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement and U.S.-
        Japan Digital Trade Agreement, and these agreements entered into force 
        on January 1, 2020;
Whereas, in January 2022, the United States and Japan established the Economic 
        Policy Consultative Committee (``Economic 2+2''), which convened for a 
        second ministerial meeting in November 2023, on the sidelines of the 
        Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit;
Whereas the Government of Japan-sponsored Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) 
        program has more than 35,000 United States alumni and represents one of 
        many exchanges that have cemented our close people-to-people ties;
Whereas, every year, more than 1,000,000 individuals visit Washington, DC, to 
        celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival, which serves as a 
        reminder of the enduring friendship between the United States and Japan; 
        and
Whereas, in April 2024, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will visit the United 
        States at the invitation of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.: Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) welcomes Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the United 
        States;
            (2) reaffirms the strong and long-standing partnership 
        between the Governments of the United States and Japan, rooted 
        in a shared commitment to upholding peace, security, and 
        prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond;
            (3) stands ready to support efforts to build a more capable 
        and modernized alliance to address regional and global security 
        challenges;
            (4) applauds the commitment of the Government of Japan to 
        defense modernization, including its goal to increase defense 
        spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027;
            (5) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
        defense of Japan under Article V of the U.S.-Japan Security 
        Treaty;
            (6) reaffirms that the Senkaku Islands fall within the 
        scope of Article V of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual 
        Cooperation and Security, and that the United States remains 
        opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo in 
        the East China Sea or undermine Japan's administration of these 
        islands;
            (7) recognizes the unprecedented convergence of the 
        national security and defense strategies between our two 
        nations, as well as the need to further bolster deterrence in 
        the Indo-Pacific;
            (8) supports Japan's efforts to expand security cooperation 
        with other United States allies and partners, most notably with 
        the Republic of Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, the 
        Philippines and India;
            (9) applauds recent advancements in trilateral cooperation 
        among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea 
        (ROK), as well as bilateral Japan-ROK relations;
            (10) encourages efforts to strengthen engagement with Japan 
        in bilateral and multilateral forums, including the Quad;
            (11) acknowledges Japan's leadership as the G7 host nation 
        in 2023, including its coordination among G7 members to address 
        economic coercion, as well as the announcement of the G7 AI 
        Principles and Code of Conduct, and focus on support for 
        Ukraine;
            (12) calls for continued cooperation between the 
        Governments of the United States and Japan in promoting our 
        shared democratic values and respect for human rights; and
            (13) commits to strengthening and deepening diplomatic, 
        economic, security, and people-to-people ties between the 
        United States and Japan.
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