[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 834 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 834

 Reaffirming the Republic of the Philippines' claim over Second Thomas 
  Shoal and supporting the Filipino people in their efforts to combat 
  aggression by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           September 19, 2024

  Mr. Graham (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. 
Hagerty) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Reaffirming the Republic of the Philippines' claim over Second Thomas 
  Shoal and supporting the Filipino people in their efforts to combat 
  aggression by the People's Republic of China in the South China Sea.

Whereas Second Thomas Shoal (also known as ``Ayungin Shoal'') is located within 
        the Spratly Islands inside the Philippines' exclusive economic zone;
Whereas in 1951, the United States and the Republic of the Philippines signed 
        the United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty, making the two 
        countries treaty allies;
Whereas in 1999, the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded the BRP Sierra Madre 
        on Second Thomas Shoal to establish a maritime outpost in the Spratly 
        Islands;
Whereas since grounding the BRP Sierra Madre, the Philippines has continuously 
        hosted a contingent of Philippine Marines on the ship;
Whereas the People's Republic of China falsely claims ``indisputable 
        sovereignty'' over Second Thomas Shoal and other areas surrounding the 
        shoal;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has repeatedly engaged in increasingly 
        hostile and aggressive behavior towards Filipino fishermen and Coast 
        Guard vessels around Second Thomas Shoal, including by deploying tear 
        gas, firing water cannons, deliberately ramming other vessels, and 
        blocking Philippine vessels' maritime routes;
Whereas in December 2023, a vessel operated by the Coast Guard of the People's 
        Republic of China surrounded a Filipino supply ship and assaulted it 
        with water cannons as it operated in an area around Second Thomas Shoal;
Whereas on May 19, 2024, the Coast Guard of the People's Republic of China 
        harassed and attempted to stop a Philippine vessel that was evacuating 
        sick personnel from the BRP Sierra Madre;
Whereas on June 17, 2024, the Coast Guard of the People's Republic of China 
        brutally assaulted a Philippine Coast Guard vessel en route to resupply 
        the BRP Sierra Madre, which injured at least eight Filipino sailors and 
        caused one Filipino sailor to lose a thumb;
Whereas on July 22, 2024, it was reported that the People's Republic of China 
        and the Republic of the Philippines reached an agreement designed to 
        reduce hostilities around Second Thomas Shoal;
Whereas on August 19, 2024, the People's Republic of China ignored the July 22, 
        2024, agreement and intentionally rammed two Philippine Coast Guard 
        vessels on a resupply mission near Second Thomas Shoal;
Whereas on August 26, 2024, the People's Republic of China deployed 40 ships to 
        block two Philippine vessels, which were attempting to resupply the BRP 
        Teresa Magbanua, the flagship of the Philippine Coast Guard;
Whereas on August 31, 2024, vessels operated by the People's Republic of China 
        repeatedly rammed and surrounded the BRP Teresa Magbanua in an area east 
        of Second Thomas Shoal, which caused damages to its hull;
Whereas Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has reiterated the United States 
        policy that ``an armed attack on Philippine Armed Forces' public vessels 
        or aircraft in the Pacific, including the South China Sea, would invoke 
        U.S. defense commitments under our mutual defense treaty'';
Whereas the Department of State has reaffirmed that the United States ``stands 
        with its ally, the Philippines, and condemns the dangerous and 
        escalatory actions by the People's Republic of China (PRC) against 
        lawful Philippine maritime operations . . .''; and
Whereas, the Department of State has also stated, ``The United States reaffirms 
        that Article IV of the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense 
        Treaty extends to armed attacks on Philippine armed forces, public 
        vessels, or aircraft--including those of its Coast Guard--anywhere in 
        the South China Sea'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes that--
                    (A) Second Thomas Shoal lies within the exclusive 
                economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines; and
                    (B) the People's Republic of China's effort to 
                harass and endanger Philippine vessels in the area are 
                violations of Philippine sovereign rights;
            (2) supports efforts to increase military assistance to the 
        Republic of the Philippines to assist in its effort to combat 
        blatant aggression by the People's Republic of China in the 
        South China Sea, including near Second Thomas Shoal;
            (3) reaffirms the commitments made by the United States to 
        the Republic of the Philippines in the 1951 United States-
        Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty; and
            (4) encourages increased cooperation and training with the 
        Republic of the Philippines, including with the Philippine 
        Coast Guard, and strong investments in United States 
        shipbuilding and other United States military capabilities to 
        ensure that our obligations to the Philippines will be carried 
        out.
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