[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 154 (Tuesday, September 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H7885-H7886]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
EXPRESSING SENSE OF THE HOUSE ON IMPORTANCE AND VITALITY OF THE UNITED
STATES ALLIANCES WITH JAPAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 127) expressing the sense of the House
of Representatives on the importance and vitality of the United States
alliances with Japan and the Republic of Korea, and our trilateral
cooperation in the pursuit of shared interests, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
The text of the resolution is as follows:
H. Res. 127
Whereas the governments and the people of the United
States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea share comprehensive
and dynamic partnerships and personal friendships rooted in
shared interests and the common values of freedom, democracy,
and free market economies;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
are all free societies committed to the principles of
inclusive democracy, respect for human potential, and the
belief that the peaceful spread of these principles will
result in a safer and brighter future for all of mankind;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
are indispensable partners in tackling global challenges and
have pledged significant support for efforts to counter
violent extremism, combat the proliferation of weapons of
mass destruction, prevent piracy, improve global health and
energy security, promote human rights, address climate
change, contribute to economic development around the world,
and assist the victims of conflict and disaster worldwide;
Whereas the governments and the people of the United
States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea all share a
commitment to free and open markets, high standards for the
free flow of commerce and trade, and the establishment of an
inclusive, transparent, and sustainable architecture for
regional and global trade and development;
Whereas the United States-Japan and the United States-
Republic of Korea alliances are the foundation of regional
stability in Asia, including against the threat posed by the
regime in Pyongyang;
Whereas cooperation between and among our nations spans
economic, energy, diplomatic, security, and cultural spheres;
Whereas the United States and Japan established diplomatic
relations on March 31, 1854, with the signing of the Treaty
of Peace and Amity;
Whereas the relationship between the peoples of the United
States and the Republic of Korea stretches back to Korea's
Chosun Dynasty, when the United States and Korea established
diplomatic relations under the 1882 Treaty of Peace, Amity,
Commerce, and Navigation;
Whereas 2019 marks the 74th anniversary of the end of World
War II, a conflict in which the United States and Japan were
enemies, and the strength of the United States-Japan alliance
is a testament to the ability of great countries to overcome
the past and to work together to create a more secure and
prosperous future;
Whereas the United States-Korea alliance was forged in
blood, with United States military casualties during the
Korean War of approximately 36,574 killed and more than
103,284 wounded, and with Republic of Korea casualties of
more than 217,000 soldiers killed, more than 291,000 soldiers
missing, and over 1,000,000 civilians killed or missing;
Whereas, for the past 70 years, the partnership between the
United States and Japan has played a vital role, both in Asia
and globally, in ensuring peace, stability, and economic
development;
Whereas, approximately 50,000 United States military
personnel serve in Japan, along with some of the United
States most advanced defense assets, including the 7th Fleet
and the USS Ronald Reagan, the only United States aircraft
carrier to be homeported outside the United States;
Whereas, since the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United
States and the Republic of Korea, signed in Washington on
October 1, 1953, and ratified by the Senate on January 26,
1954, United States military personnel have maintained a
continuous presence on the Korean Peninsula, and
approximately 28,500 United States troops are stationed in
the Republic of Korea in 2019;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea have
stood alongside each other in the four major wars the United
States has fought outside Korea since World War II--in
Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq;
Whereas Japan is the fourth-largest United States trading
partner and together with the United States represents 30
percent of global Gross Domestic Product, and Japanese firms
have invested $469,000,000,000 in the United States;
Whereas, the economic relationship between the United
States and its sixth-largest trading partner, the Republic of
Korea, with which we have a free trade agreement, includes
358,000 jobs in the United States that are directly related
to exports to the Republic of Korea, and has resulted in more
than $40,000,000,000 in investments by Korean firms in the
United States;
Whereas Japan and the Republic of Korea stand as strong
partners of the United States in efforts to ensure maritime
security and freedom of navigation, commerce, and overflight
and to uphold respect for the rule of law and to oppose the
use of coercion, intimidation, or force to change the
regional or global status quo, including in the maritime
domains of the Indo-Pacific, which are among the busiest
waterways in the world;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
are committed to working together towards a world where the
Democratic People's Republic of Korea (in this preamble
referred to as the ``DPRK'') does not threaten global peace
and security with its weapons of mass destruction, missile
proliferation, and illicit activities, and where the DPRK
respects human rights and its people can live in freedom;
Whereas section 211 of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy
Enhancement Act of 2016 (22 U.S.C. 9231; Public Law 114-122)
expresses the sense of Congress that the President ``should
seek to strengthen high-level trilateral mechanisms for
discussion and coordination of policy toward North Korea
between the Government of the United States, the Government
of South Korea, and the Government of Japan'';
Whereas the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public
Law 115-409) underscores the importance of trilateral defense
cooperation and enforcement of multilateral sanctions against
North Korea and calls for regular consultation with Congress
on the status of such efforts;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea
have made great strides in promoting trilateral cooperation
and defense partnership, including ministerial meetings,
information sharing, and cooperation on ballistic missile
defense exercises to counter North Korean provocations;
Whereas the United States views the General Security of
Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) between the Republic
of Korea and Japan as important to United States security
interests in the region, and trilateral information sharing
as a critical aspect of cooperation between our allies;
Whereas Japanese Americans and Korean Americans have made
invaluable contributions to the security, prosperity, and
diversity of our Nation, including service as our elected
representatives in the Senate and in the House of
Representatives; and
Whereas the United States Government looks forward to
continuing to deepen our enduring partnerships with Japan and
the Republic of Korea on economic, security, and cultural
issues, as well as embracing new opportunities for bilateral
and trilateral partnerships and cooperation on emerging
regional and global challenges: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives reaffirms the
importance of--
(1) the vital role of the alliances between the United
States and Japan and the United States and the Republic of
Korea in promoting peace, stability, and security in the
Indo-Pacific region, including through United States extended
deterrence, and reaffirms the commitment of the United States
to defend Japan, including all areas under the administration
of Japan, under Article V of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation
and Security Between the United States of America
[[Page H7886]]
and Japan, and to defend the Republic of Korea under Article
III of the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States
and the Republic of Korea;
(2) a constructive and forward-looking relationship between
Japan and the Republic of Korea for United States diplomatic,
economic, and security interests and for open and inclusive
architecture to support the development of a secure, stable,
and prosperous Indo-Pacific region;
(3) strengthening and broadening diplomatic, economic,
security, and people-to-people ties between and among the
United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea;
(4) developing and implementing a strategy to deepen the
trilateral diplomatic and security cooperation between the
United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, including
through diplomatic engagement, regional development, energy
security, scientific and health partnerships, educational and
cultural exchanges, missile defense, intelligence-sharing,
space, cyber, and other diplomatic and defense-related
initiatives;
(5) trilateral cooperation with members of the United
Nations Security Council and other Member States to fully and
effectively enforce sanctions against the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea (in this resolution referred to as the
``DPRK'') and evaluate additional and meaningful new measures
toward the DPRK under Article 41 of the United Nations
Charter;
(6) trilateral cooperation to support and uphold a rules-
based trade and economic order in the Indo-Pacific region,
including the empowerment of women, which is vital for the
prosperity of all our nations;
(7) supporting the expansion of academic and cultural
exchanges among the three nations, especially efforts to
encourage Japanese and Korean students to study at
universities in the United States, and vice versa, to deepen
people-to-people ties; and
(8) continued cooperation among the governments of the
United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to promote
human rights.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Michigan (Mr. Levin) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.
General Leave
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H. Res. 127.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Michigan?
There was no objection.
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this measure, and I want to start
by thanking Chairman Engel for his leadership in bringing this measure
forward today and Mr. McCaul, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Yoho for their
partnership in demonstrating this is a bipartisan effort aimed at
strengthening the trilateral ties among the United States, Japan, and
the Republic of Korea.
For many years now, our three countries have worked hard to lay the
foundation for enduring regional security in Northeast Asia. We have
found common ground in many areas: promoting a rules-based economic
order in Asia, defending against aggression from North Korea, and
ensuring freedom of navigation and overflight, to name a few.
Recently, however, there has been an alarming deterioration of
relations between Seoul and Tokyo. Of particular concern to U.S.
interests has been the decision to end the 2015 agreement, an agreement
the U.S. worked closely with Seoul and Tokyo to reach, as well as the
politicization of bilateral trade disputes. There is no question that
we need to get this relationship back on track.
The United States, Japan, and Korea have nothing to gain from the
current trajectory, but we all have a lot to lose. American businesses
lose out when tense trade relations create uncertainty about markets
and supply chains. American security is undermined when one of our
greatest assets, our alliances, are weakened. And, of course, those who
want to see the rules-based order in Asia topple benefit from all of
this.
This resolution calls on the United States, Japan, and the Republic
of Korea to strengthen our trilateral cooperation in areas critical to
all of us and to safeguard and strengthen our longstanding diplomatic,
economic, security, and people-to-people ties.
This is a good measure that I am pleased to support, and I urge my
colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution, which
Chairman Engel and I introduced earlier this year.
The U.S. alliances with Japan and South Korea remain critical to U.S.
national security interests in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.
The trilateral cooperation we share with both of these allies is
essential now more than ever, as we face China's aggressive expansion
with its Belt and Road policy and North Korea's continued nuclear
belligerence.
But the relationship between South Korea and Japan continues to be
burdened by historical grievances surrounding imperial Japan's conduct
both before and during World War II.
These tensions have flared up since late 2018, developing into an
export control dispute and, more recently, affecting our security
cooperation.
For instance, last month, South Korea announced that it will withdraw
from the General Security of Military Information Agreement with Japan.
This key intelligence-sharing pact is essential to our joint responses
to North Korean missile launches and other fast-developing military
crises. South Korea's withdrawal will take effect in November, so it is
essential that this confrontation between the two important U.S. allies
be resolved as soon as possible.
Chairman Engel's resolution is a timely reminder of the U.S.
relationship with both of these critical security partners and the
enduring importance of our trilateral cooperation.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, Japan has now banned certain products to be
exported to South Korea that are used by South Korea and Samsung, which
is in my district. They are the largest foreign investment in the
United States. Samsung will be hamstrung in its ability to create
semiconductor chips and bring them to the United States and its
facility out in Austin, Texas, in my district.
For all these reasons, and national security reasons, most
importantly, I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LEVIN of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume for the purpose of closing.
Mr. Speaker, this resolution offers a positive vision for our
trilateral relationship. Its passage today reaffirms the importance of
our countries' cooperation on critical economic and security issues and
calls on Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington, collectively, to develop a
strategy to reverse the current trajectory and to work together to
build stronger ties.
It is a good resolution, and I urge my colleagues to join me in
supporting it.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Levin) that the House suspend the rules
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 127, 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.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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