[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 145 (Thursday, August 13, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5409-S5411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 680--CONDEMNING THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA'S USE 
 OF MILITARY AGGRESSION TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO AT THE LINE OF ACTUAL 
                    CONTROL BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA

  Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Warner) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 680

       Whereas, since a truce ended the 1962 war between India and 
     the People's Republic of China, the countries have been 
     divided by a Line of Actual Control;
       Whereas the United States officially recognizes the McMahon 
     Line, the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and encourages a 
     diplomatic solution to remaining contested areas of the 
     border between India and China;
       Whereas, due to the disputed nature of the Line of Actual 
     Control, minor standoffs between India and the People's 
     Republic of China have occasionally happened, but prior to 
     June 15, 2020, no military fatalities had occurred since 
     1975;
       Whereas, in the months leading up to June 15, 2020, the 
     People's Republic of China increased troop deployments, built 
     new infrastructure in contested areas, and harassed Indian 
     patrols along multiple sectors of the Line of Actual Control, 
     particularly around the Depsang Plains, Galwan Valley, Hot 
     Springs, and Pangong Lake;
       Whereas the events of June 15, 2020, which resulted in the 
     death of 20 Indian soldiers, raises serious concerns 
     regarding the intent of the Government of the People's 
     Republic of China and its military forces;
       Whereas this act by the People's Republic of China military 
     occurred during bilateral diplomatic negotiations between the 
     Governments of the People's Republic of China and India, who 
     were attempting to deescalate tensions at the Line of Actual 
     Control;
       Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China's 
     expanded territorial claims in Bhutan's eastern sector is a 
     transparent attempt at expanding its illegitimate claims over 
     the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh;
       Whereas the United States designated India as a Major 
     Defense Partner and has taken steps to deepen the bilateral 
     defense relationship, including by elevating India to 
     Strategic Trade Authorization Tier 1 Status and conducting 
     annual joint military exercises;
       Whereas the United States Government remains committed to a 
     free and open Indo-Pacific and views China's aggression at 
     the Line of Actual Control, in the Indian Ocean, and in the 
     Western Pacific as a threat to the stability and security of 
     the international community;
       Whereas the Government of India has taken steps to secure 
     its telecommunications infrastructure from Chinese security 
     threats;
       Whereas it mutually benefits the United States and India to 
     strengthen their Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership 
     through increased defense interoperability, intelligence 
     sharing, access to military installations, and trade;
       Whereas the United States and India have signed three 
     foundational military agreements, the General Security of 
     Military Information Agreement, the Logistics Exchange 
     Memorandum of Understanding, and the Communications, 
     Compatibility, and Security Agreement, and are working to 
     sign the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement; and
       Whereas it is in the mutual interest of the United States 
     and India to expand their defense and intelligence 
     relationships both bilaterally, as well as multilaterally 
     through the Quadrilateral Dialogue with Japan and Australia: 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) condemns the People's Republic of China's use of 
     military force to change the status quo at the Line of Actual 
     Control, as well as its refusal to demarcate that Line in 
     accordance with past bilateral agreements with India;
       (2) supports a diplomatic solution that rapidly restores 
     the April 2020 status quo at the Line of Actual Control;
       (3) commends India for taking steps to secure its 
     telecommunications infrastructure

[[Page S5411]]

     from Chinese security threats and encourages multilateral 
     engagement in these efforts, including through the Blue Dot 
     Network;
       (4) commits to deepening defense, intelligence, and 
     economic ties with India in line with fulfilling the full 
     potential of the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership; 
     and
       (5) supports bilateral and multilateral partnerships, such 
     as the Quadrilateral Dialogue, to promote a rules-based order 
     in the Indo-Pacific.

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