[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 134 (Thursday, September 18, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5797-S5798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 567--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
    POSSIBLE EASING OF RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF LETHAL MILITARY 
                 EQUIPMENT TO THE GOVERNMENT OF VIETNAM

  Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Corker, Mr. Whitehouse, and 
Mr. Cardin) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 567

       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) Vietnam is an important emerging partner with which the 
     United States increasingly shares strategic and economic 
     interests, including improving bilateral and multilateral 
     capacity for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, 
     upholding the principles of freedom of navigation and 
     peaceful resolution of international disputes, strengthening 
     an open regional trading order, and maintaining a favorable 
     balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region;
       (2) the Government of Vietnam has recently taken modest but 
     encouraging steps to improve its human rights record, 
     including signing the United Nations Convention Against 
     Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or 
     Punishment, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly 
     December 10, 1984, increasing registrations for places of 
     worship, taking greater action to combat human trafficking, 
     reviewing the Criminal Code, and beginning high-level 
     engagement with the United States and international human 
     rights nongovernmental organizations;

[[Page S5798]]

       (3) in light of growing challenges in the Asia-Pacific 
     region and some steps by the Government of Vietnam to improve 
     its human rights record, the President should begin a process 
     to ease the United States prohibition on the sale of lethal 
     military equipment to Vietnam, which is maintained under 
     executive authority and can be changed without legislative 
     action, but should not be changed without consultation with 
     Congress;
       (4) easing the prohibition on the sale of lethal military 
     equipment to Vietnam at this time solely with regard to 
     maritime and coastal defense would further United States 
     national security interests, but steps beyond this to ease 
     further the prohibition would require the Government of 
     Vietnam to take significant and sustained steps to protect 
     human rights, including releases of prisoners of conscience 
     and legal reforms;
       (5) the United States Government should continue to support 
     civil society in Vietnam, including advocates for religious 
     freedom, press freedom, and labor rights who seek to use 
     peaceful means to build a strong and prosperous Vietnam that 
     respects human rights and the rule of law; and
       (6) the United States Government should continue to engage 
     the Government of Vietnam in a high-level dialogue and 
     specify what steps on human rights would be necessary for the 
     Government of Vietnam to take in order to continue 
     strengthening the bilateral relationship, including to ease 
     further the prohibition on the sale of lethal military 
     equipment.

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