[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 146 (Wednesday, December 3, 2014)]
[House]
[Pages H8350-H8354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REAFFIRMING THE PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES IN THE SOUTH CHINA AND 
                          THE EAST CHINA SEAS

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the resolution (H. Res. 714) reaffirming the peaceful and 
collaborative resolution of maritime and jurisdictional disputes in the 
South China Sea and the East China Sea as provided for by universally 
recognized principles of international law, and reaffirming the strong 
support of the United States Government for freedom of navigation and 
other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-
Pacific region, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 714

       Whereas the maritime domains of the Asia-Pacific region, 
     which include both the sea and airspace above the domains, 
     are critical to the region's prosperity, stability, and 
     security, including global commerce;
       Whereas the maritime domain in the Asia-Pacific region 
     between the Pacific and Indian Oceans includes critical sea 
     lines of commerce and communication;
       Whereas China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia, 
     and Brunei have disputed territorial claims over the Spratly 
     Islands, and China, Taiwan, and Vietnam have disputed 
     territorial claims over the Paracel Islands;
       Whereas, although the United States Government is not a 
     claimant in maritime disputes in either the East China or 
     South China Seas, the United States has an interest in the 
     peaceful diplomatic resolution of disputed claims in 
     accordance with international law, in freedom of navigation 
     and overflight, and in the free-flow of commerce free of 
     coercion, intimidation, or the use of force;
       Whereas in 2002, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
     (ASEAN) and China agreed to the Declaration on the Conduct of 
     Parties in the South China Sea, and committed to developing 
     an effective Code of Conduct;
       Whereas that declaration committed all parties to those 
     territorial disputes to ``reaffirm their respect for and 
     commitment to the freedom of navigation in and over flight 
     above the South China Sea as provided for by the universally 
     recognized principles of international law'', and to 
     ``resolve their territorial and jurisdictional disputes by 
     peaceful means, without resorting to the threat or use of 
     force'';
       Whereas since that time, tensions over the disputed 
     maritime and territorial areas have increased;
       Whereas on September 2010, tensions escalated in the East 
     China Sea near the Senkaku (Diaoyutai) Islands, a territory 
     under the legal administration of Japan, when a Chinese 
     fishing vessel deliberately rammed Japanese Coast Guard 
     patrol boats;
       Whereas on February 25, 2011, a frigate from the People's 
     Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) fired shots at three fishing 
     boats from the Philippines;
       Whereas on March 2, 2011, the Government of the Philippines 
     reported that two patrol boats from China attempted to ram 
     one of its surveillance ships;
       Whereas on May 26, 2011, a maritime security vessel from 
     China cut the cables of an exploration ship from Vietnam, the 
     Binh Minh, in the South China Sea in waters near Cam Ranh Bay 
     in the exclusive economic zone of Vietnam;
       Whereas on May 31, 2011, three Chinese military vessels 
     used guns to threaten the crews of four Vietnamese fishing 
     boats while they were fishing in the waters of the Spratly 
     Islands;
       Whereas on June 9, 2011, three vessels from China, 
     including one fishing vessel and two maritime security 
     vessels, ran into and disabled the cables of another 
     exploration ship from Vietnam, the Viking 2, in the exclusive 
     economic zone of Vietnam;
       Whereas on July 22, 2011, an Indian naval vessel, sailing 
     about 45 nautical miles off the coast of Vietnam, was warned 
     by a Chinese naval vessel that it was allegedly violating 
     Chinese territorial waters;
       Whereas in April 2012, tensions escalated between the 
     Philippines and China following a standoff over the 
     Scarborough Shoal;
       Whereas in June 2012, Vietnam passed a Maritime law that 
     claimed sovereignty and jurisdiction over the Paracel and 
     Spratly Islands;
       Whereas in June 2012, China's cabinet, the State Council, 
     approved the establishment of the city of Sansha to oversee 
     the areas claimed by China in the South China Sea;
       Whereas in July 2012, Chinese military authorities 
     announced that they had established a corresponding People's 
     Liberation Army garrison in Sansha, in the new prefecture;
       Whereas on June 23, 2012, the China National Offshore Oil 
     Corporation invited bids for oil exploration in areas within 
     200 nautical miles of the continental shelf and within the 
     exclusive economic zone of Vietnam;
       Whereas in January 2013, a Chinese naval ship allegedly 
     fixed its weapons-targeting radar on Japanese vessels in the 
     vicinity of the Senkaku islands in the East China Sea, and, 
     on April 23, 2013, eight Chinese marine surveillance ships 
     entered the 12-nautical-

[[Page H8351]]

     mile territorial zone off the Senkaku Islands, further 
     escalating regional tensions;
       Whereas on May 9, 2013, a fatal shooting incident occurred 
     in which shots fired from a Philippine Coast Guard patrol 
     boat resulted in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman;
       Whereas on May 1, 2014, China's state-owned energy company, 
     CNOOC, anchored its deepwater drilling rig Hai Yang Shi You 
     981 (HD-981) in Vietnamese waters and deployed over 80 
     vessels, including seven military vessels, to support its 
     provocative actions and attempt to change the status quo by 
     force;
       Whereas Chinese vessels accompanying Hai Yang Shi You 981 
     (HD-981) intimidated Vietnamese Coast Guard ships in 
     violation of the Convention on the International Regulations 
     for Preventing Collisions at Sea, ramming multiple Vietnamese 
     vessels, and using helicopters and water cannons to obstruct 
     others;
       Whereas on May 5, 2014, vessels from the Maritime Safety 
     Administration of China (MSAC) established an exclusion zone 
     with a radius of three nautical miles around Hai Yang Shi You 
     981 (HD-981);
       Whereas China's actions in support of the Hai Yang Shi You 
     981 (HD-981) drilling activity constitute a unilateral 
     attempt to change the status quo by force;
       Whereas claimants have participated in land reclamation and 
     building up of land features, and whereas such activities 
     have raised tensions among the claimants;
       Whereas, without prior consultations with the United 
     States, Japan, the Republic of Korea or other nations of the 
     Asia-Pacific region, China declared an Air Defense 
     Identification Zone (ADIZ) over the East China Sea on 
     November 23, 2013;
       Whereas China announced that all aircraft, even if they do 
     not intend to enter the ADIZ airspace, would have to submit 
     flight plans, maintain radio contact, and follow directions 
     from the Chinese Ministry of National Defense;
       Whereas the ``rules of engagement'' declared by China, 
     which at one time included the threat of ``emergency 
     defensive measures'', are in violation of the concept of 
     ``due regard for the safety of civil aviation'' under the 
     Chicago Convention of the International Civil Aviation 
     Organization and thereby are a departure from accepted 
     practice;
       Whereas China's declaration of an ADIZ over the East China 
     Sea has contributed to increased uncertainty and unsafe 
     conditions in the maritime region in East Asia and the 
     broader Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas freedom of navigation and other lawful uses of sea 
     and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region are embodied in 
     international law, not granted by certain states to others;
       Whereas the United States Government expressed profound 
     concerns with China's unilateral, provocative, dangerous, and 
     destabilizing declaration of such a zone, including the 
     potential for misunderstandings and miscalculations by 
     aircraft operating lawfully in international airspace;
       Whereas China's declaration of an ADIZ in the East China 
     Sea will not alter how the United States Government conducts 
     operations in the region or the unwavering United States 
     commitment to peace, security and stability in the Asia-
     Pacific region;
       Whereas other governments in the Asia-Pacific region, 
     including the Governments of Japan, Korea, Philippines, 
     Australia and Indonesia have expressed deep concern about 
     China's declaration of such a zone, regarding it as an effort 
     to unduly infringe upon the freedom of flight in 
     international airspace and to change the status quo that 
     could escalate tensions and potentially cause unintentional 
     consequences in the East China Sea;
       Whereas the United States Government does not support 
     unilateral actions taken by any claimant seeking to change 
     the status quo through the use of coercion, intimidation, or 
     military force;
       Whereas the United States Government is deeply concerned 
     about unilateral actions taken by any state to prevent any 
     other state from exercising its sovereign rights to the 
     resources of the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and 
     continental shelf by making claims to those areas that have 
     no apparent basis in international law; declarations of 
     administrative and military districts in contested areas in 
     the South and East China Seas; and the imposition of new 
     fishing regulations covering disputed areas, which have 
     raised tensions in the region;
       Whereas international law is important to safeguard the 
     rights and freedoms of all states in the Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas China and Vietnam have undertaken discussions to 
     reduce tensions between their navies;
       Whereas in November 2014, the United States and China 
     signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 
     ``rules of behavior for safety of air and maritime 
     encounters'';
       Whereas the MOU currently addresses only maritime behaviors 
     and both sides have agreed to complete an additional annex on 
     air-to-air encounters in 2015;
       Whereas the United States welcomes the agreement by Japan 
     and China, in advance of their bilateral meeting in November 
     2014, to reduce tensions over disputed islands in the East 
     China Sea and to ``gradually resume political, diplomatic and 
     security dialogues''; and
       Whereas a peaceful and prosperous China, which acts as a 
     responsible international stakeholder and which respects 
     international laws, standards, and institutions, will enhance 
     security and peace in the Asia-Pacific region: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) reaffirms the strong support of the United States for 
     the peaceful resolution of maritime territorial disputes in 
     the South China Sea and the East China Sea and pledges 
     continued efforts to facilitate a collaborative, peaceful 
     process to resolve these disputes;
       (2) reaffirms the strong support for freedom of navigation 
     and over flight and condemns coercive and threatening actions 
     or the use of force to impede these freedoms in international 
     maritime domains and airspace by military or civilian 
     vessels, to alter the status quo or to destabilize the Asia-
     Pacific region;
       (3) does not recognize the East China Sea Air Defense 
     Identification Zone (ADIZ) declared by China, which is 
     contrary to freedom of overflight in international airspace, 
     and calls on China to refrain from taking similar provocative 
     actions elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, including in 
     the South China Sea;
       (4) urges the Association of Southeast Asian Nations 
     (ASEAN), all United States allies and partners, and all 
     claimants to amiably and fairly resolve these outstanding 
     disputes, including through the conclusion of a Code of 
     Conduct for the South China Sea;
       (5) urges the conclusion of the annex to the non-binding 
     memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States 
     and China on ``rules of behavior for safety of air and 
     maritime encounters'' addressing air-to-air encounters in 
     2015;
       (6) supports the continuation of operations by the United 
     States to support freedom of navigation in international 
     waters and air space in the South China Sea and the East 
     China Sea; and
       (7) encourages the continuation of efforts by the United 
     States Government to strengthen partnerships in the region to 
     build capacity for maritime domain awareness in support of 
     freedom of navigation, maintenance of peace and stability, 
     and respect for universally recognized principles of 
     international law.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) and the gentleman from New York (Mr. Engel) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida.


                             General Leave

  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks 
and to include extraneous material on the resolution.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Florida?
  There was no objection.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 714.
  I would like to recognize the gentleman from American Samoa, our good 
friend, Eni Faleomavaega, for introducing this important measure, and I 
was proud to have joined him as the lead cosponsor.
  I would like to commend and thank Mr. Faleomavaega for his nearly 
four decades of service in the United States Congress and to our 
Foreign Affairs Committee, which will soon come to an end, sadly, and 
we will all miss him dearly.
  Throughout his career, Eni has fought for human rights and for the 
rule of law, especially in the Asia-Pacific region, and the idea that 
all people should have the opportunity to prosper without fear for 
their family's safety or livelihoods. This resolution that he presents 
before us is a fitting representation of the ideals and goals that Eni 
has worked so hard in support of during his many years in Congress.
  This resolution encourages a peaceful reconciliation of the maritime 
and jurisdictional disputes in the South and East China Seas, as well 
as the kind of peace that is too often lacking in our world today. This 
resolution is also an important statement in support of the universally 
recognized principle of the freedom of navigation.
  Mr. Speaker, peace in Asia has held for over a generation, and we 
have seen incredible economic growth. Home to a vast combination of 
global sea routes and shipping lanes, substantial energy resources, and 
significant fishing territories, the importance of maintaining peace in 
the South China Sea and the East China Sea cannot be overstated.

                              {time}  1830

  According to estimates, the South China Sea contains oil reserves of 
900 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, making the area second only to 
Saudi Arabia in regard to oil supply. With Asian

[[Page H8352]]

energy consumption set to double by the year 2030, the conflicting 
claims in this region will likely grow more intense.
  Beyond the region's vast energy resources, peace in the South China 
Sea is essential for international commerce. Each year, $5.3 trillion 
in trade passes through the South China Sea, over $1 trillion of which 
can be attributed to the United States. But the fragile stability that 
has held in Asia is now being threatened by China's hegemonic ambitions 
and its aggressive stance towards its neighbors. From its declaration 
of an Air Defense Identification Zone to its ramming of other nation's 
fishing boats to its economic coercion of U.S. allies like Taiwan, 
China has rapidly raised tensions in the region.
  China is pushing the limits on the high seas, motivated by potent 
nationalist trends and the resources at stake. China's territorial 
stakes are a clear challenge to its neighbors and must not be allowed 
to go unchallenged. This resolution rightfully states that China's 
declaration has contributed to increased uncertainty and unsafe 
conditions in East Asia.
  Additionally, Mr. Faleomavaega's resolution calls for freedom of 
navigation, which is a bedrock principle of international commerce that 
dates back centuries, helping to ensure the continued flow of global 
trade.
  Mr. Speaker, given the importance of this region, I urge my 
colleagues to support Mr. Faleomavaega's resolution, which puts the 
House on record supporting a peaceful process to resolve these 
disputes.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H. Res. 714. Let me start by 
thanking my colleague from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) for 
authorizing this resolution. I also thank him for his many years of 
distinguished service here in Congress. This is especially moving for 
me because Eni and I were both elected to Congress on the same day and 
started to serve that first day. We were elected in November of 1988, 
and we both served starting January 3, 1989. As the jargon is here in 
Washington, we are classmates. We sat next to each other on the Foreign 
Affairs Committee for all those years and had a good chance to travel 
together and have our families get to know each other, especially our 
wives. It really has been a pleasure to be a friend and a colleague of 
Mr. Faleomavaega. We are going to miss him, but I know he will grace 
our presence and come back and visit.
  So this is really a tribute. This is an important resolution. It is 
important for its substance, but it is also important because I look at 
it as a tribute to Eni Faleomavaega, my colleague, my friend, a really 
great human being, great American, and great person representing 
American Samoa for so many years. Thank you, Eni.
  As both the chairman and the ranking member of the Subcommittee on 
Asia and the Pacific throughout the years, Mr. Faleomavaega was focused 
on U.S. policy involving the Asia-Pacific region. He was focused on 
this policy long before anyone decided we need a ``pivot'' or 
``rebalance'' to the region. Eni always knew--and knows--that Asia is 
important, and that the United States, as a Pacific power, has a vital 
role to play.
  The measure we are considering today reaffirms our strong support for 
a peaceful resolution to disputes in the South China Sea and East China 
Sea. It calls on all parties to reduce tensions, manage disputes 
peacefully, and adhere to international law. It encourages our own 
government to keep working with allies and partners, helping expand 
their ability to keep an eye on their own maritime domains.
  The United States, as I mentioned before, is a Pacific power. We have 
a vital interest in freedom of navigation and overflight in these 
disputed areas, which are vital to economic security and lawful 
commerce in the region. These are universal rights, not rights granted 
by some states to others and not rights that China thinks it can 
dominate and be aggressive in terms of claiming the seas as its own, 
even though many of those seas are literally thousands of miles away 
from mainland China.
  Tensions in the East and South China Sea have been steadily 
increasing for the last several years. Provocations have become bolder 
and more frequent, and little progress has been made on a code of 
conduct in the South China Sea to establish rules of the road among 
claimants.
  When I went there more than a year ago with Chairman Royce, we were 
told by the government of the Philippines and Japan that they were 
very, very concerned with what China has been doing and claiming. The 
United States does not take sides in these disputes. We believe that 
they should be resolved diplomatically and without force or coercion. 
Territorial claims--and arbitration of those claims--should be based on 
international law.
  There have been some hopeful signs. Japan and Taiwan have worked out 
an agreement relating to fishing rights. China and Vietnam have began 
discussions on how to reduce tensions between their respective navies. 
In advance of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, called 
APEC, and bilateral meetings, Japan and China decided to ``agree to 
disagree'' on the issue of the Senkaku Islands. They are now looking 
for other ways to expand their diplomatic, political, and security 
ties, despite their differences.
  In addition, the President announced during his recent visit to 
Beijing that the United States and China agreed to a range of maritime 
confidence-building measures. We will continue working to expand this 
cooperation into airspace next year.
  These developments are positive and should continue in earnest, but 
they are not enough. H. Res. 714 urges all parties to stay focused on 
this progress and to continue working for a peaceful resolution of 
maritime disputes in areas that are vitally important to the continued 
economic development, peace, and security of the Asia-Pacific region.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to support this resolution, 
and I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, it is now my pleasure and honor to yield 5 
minutes to the Representative from American Samoa, Mr. Eni 
Faleomavaega.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank the gentleman for yielding. I want to 
especially thank my good friend from New York and the gentlewoman from 
Florida for their leadership and their support of this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 714, a resolution I 
introduced calling for the peaceful and collaborative resolution of 
maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the East China 
Sea.
  I thank my colleagues, both Republicans and Democrats, who have stood 
with me since 2012 on this issue. I want to especially thank again 
Chairwoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Chairman Steve Chabot for their 
leadership and support. I also thank Chairman Ed Royce and Ranking 
Member Eliot Engel for their support and help.
  I am so serious about this matter that I have introduced this 
language as a resolution, as a bill, and now again as a resolution in 
hopes that the House will take a stand in response to China's 
aggressive actions in the South China Sea and the East China Sea.
  Mr. Speaker, when it comes to China, I consider myself a fair broker, 
but it is time for China to stop provoking its neighbors and pursue a 
course of peace. This is the last resolution I have introduced that the 
House will consider, and I am proud that this resolution calls for 
peace in the Asia-Pacific region.
  Also, as a matter of observation, Mr. Speaker, two-thirds of the 
world's population is in the Asia-Pacific region. For years, I have 
always had a little sense of complaint that it seems that our focus has 
always been toward Europe and the Middle East. Not that they are not 
important, but the fact is that issues coming out of the Asia-Pacific 
region should be given our proper attention.
  I have served on the House Foreign Affairs Committee since I first 
came to the U.S. Congress in 1989. For as long as I have served, it has 
always been, and continues to be, my belief that the United States 
should pay more attention to the Asia-Pacific region. As of now, we 
should pay particular attention to the ongoing tensions in the South 
China Sea.

[[Page H8353]]

  Also, although the United States Government is not a claimant in 
maritime disputes in either the East China Sea or the South China Sea, 
the United States has an interest in the peaceful diplomatic resolution 
of disputed claims in accordance with international law; in freedom of 
navigation and overflight; and in the free flow of commerce that is 
free of coercion, intimidation, or the use of force.
  Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the leadership of Vietnam in standing for 
peace--even when China violated its sovereignty by planting its oil 
rig, HD-981, in the waters of Vietnam's Exclusive Economic Zone. I also 
commend Taiwan and Japan for peacefully reaching an agreement to 
jointly share fishing resources in their overlapping Exclusive Economic 
Zones through the East China Sea Initiative, which demonstrates that 
resolutions can be achieved through peaceful means.
  Mr. Speaker, I firmly believe that we should earnestly seek ways to 
promote peace, and I thank you for the opportunity I have had to 
associate with you and our colleagues to carry out our responsibilities 
in this great Nation.
  It has been my distinct honor to serve the people of American Samoa 
in the U.S. House of Representatives for the past 25 years. I thank 
them for giving me the opportunity to serve them and this great Nation. 
I believe I did my best, and I hope I will be remembered for giving all 
I could to American Samoa and to our great Nation, especially to the 
Asia-Pacific region, a region that has been too long neglected by our 
national government.
  To borrow the words of Mahatma Gandhi:

       I hope my life will be my message.

  Mr. Speaker, we will meet again, hopefully, and I extend to each of 
my colleagues my fondest aloha.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Guam, Representative Madeleine Bordallo.
  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H. Res. 
714, authored by my very good friend, Representative Eni Faleomavaega 
of American Samoa. This resolution reaffirms the United States' 
interest in a peaceful and collaborative resolution of maritime and 
jurisdictional disputes in the South and East China Seas.
  Disputes over islands in the South and East China Seas have broad 
economic and security implications to United States interests in the 
Asia-Pacific region. Escalation of these disputes undercut peace and 
stability in the region and seriously impact economies across the 
globe.
  I strongly believe that the United States must take a leadership role 
in these disputes and work with our Asian allies to support a peaceful 
and collaborative resolution to these issues. The resolution takes a 
step in the right direction. We cannot accept unilateral action by any 
of the countries involved in these disputes, as it further degrades 
security in the region. Here is a clear example of Congress supporting 
the United States' role in the rebalance of the Asia-Pacific region.
  In particular, we cannot allow recent aggressive actions by China to 
go unchecked. So I urge all parties, like Secretary Clinton did in 
2012, to push toward finalizing a code of conduct that would establish 
a mechanism to resolve these differences. I believe that it is 
important for all parties to come to a resolution over these disputes 
and not allow them to fester any longer.

                              {time}  1845

  These disputes should no longer be used as weapons to bolster 
nationalism helping to secure domestic power.
  We must do all that we can to ensure continued peace and stability in 
the Asia-Pacific region, and I am glad that the House of 
Representatives is acting on this important measure to send a clear 
message to China and our allies in the region.
  I want to close by saying that I am a close friend of Congressman Eni 
Faleomavaega. I am from Guam, he represents American Samoa, islands in 
the Pacific area. I want to thank him for his leadership on this issue 
and his long and dedicated service in the House of Representatives, I 
understand not just as an elected Member, but as a staffer as well, 
serving here over 40 years, as well as all the other issues in the 
Asia-Pacific region that he has looked after.
  Mr. Speaker, I strongly, again, urge my colleagues to pass H. Res. 
714.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. ENGEL. Mr. Speaker, I am going to close now. In closing, I would 
like to underscore the importance and timeliness of this resolution. It 
is imperative that disagreements in the East or South China Seas be 
resolved peacefully, without force or coercion, and in accordance with 
international law.
  Anything less than this jeopardizes the interests of the United 
States, of our allies and partners, and the continued economic 
development, peace, and security of the Asia-Pacific region.
  I urge all my colleagues to support this important resolution, H. 
Res. 714.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Will the gentleman yield?
  Mr. ENGEL. I yield to the gentleman from American Samoa.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. I thank the gentleman for yielding, and certainly 
want to thank him for his most eloquent statements towards me. I feel a 
little embarrassed by it, but I do want to thank him.
  I do want to note, also, that it has been my honor to have served 
with him and our colleagues on the other side of the aisle very well, 
on affairs affecting our national interests, our government.
  The gentlelady from Florida will note that I have a relative who 
happens to live in her district. His name happens to be Dwayne Johnson, 
and if you haven't seen his latest movie, ``Hercules,'' I suggest to my 
colleagues that you should see the movie ``Hercules'' and see what 
Samoans are like.
  I do want to thank the gentleman again for yielding.
  Mr. ENGEL. I thank the gentleman, and I want to just say, I think we 
all have relatives that live in Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's district. And if 
we don't, we want to go to her district in the wintertime.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume. And I would like to point out that Dwayne Johnson, The Rock, 
is a University of Miami Hurricanes alum. It is not bragging if it is 
true. But thank you.
  Mr. Speaker, over the past several years, I have noticed, we all have 
noticed a worrying trend in Asia. What we are seeing is that Asia's 
collective attention is gradually shifting away from economic 
prosperity to security concerns.
  Where nations used to focus on trade and commerce, there is 
increasing discussion of nationalism, of military budgets, and even 
provocative behavior. There is no better example than the territorial 
disputes that Mr. Faleomavaega points out in his resolution in the 
South China and East China Sea.
  We need to work against this shift toward nationalism and promote a 
peaceful resolution to these disputes. This resolution by Mr. 
Faleomavaega encourages just that. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our good friend and 
colleague Mr. Faleomavaega for his lifetime of service. And I know that 
I am speaking for our esteemed chairman, Mr. Royce, and all of the 
Members when we say, thank you, Mr. Faleomavaega, for your service to 
our country during the Vietnam war.
  Thank you for the service in the cause of peace in the decades that 
followed that conflict during his distinguished career here in the 
people's House. We are a better institution for you having served here, 
sir.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 714, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  The title of the resolution was amended so as to read: ``A resolution 
reaffirming the strong support of the United States Government for the

[[Page H8354]]

peaceful and collaborative resolution of maritime and jurisdictional 
disputes in the South China Sea and the East China Sea as provided for 
by universally recognized principles of international law, and 
reaffirming the vital interest of the United States in freedom of 
navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in 
the Asia-Pacific region.''.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________