[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.
____________________