[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 75 (Thursday, May 5, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2361-S2362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

                                 ______
                                 

SENATE RESOLUTION 616--EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH 
EAST ASIAN NATIONS, ITS 10 MEMBER STATES, BRUNEI, CAMBODIA, INDONESIA, 
  LAOS, MALAYSIA, MYANMAR, THE PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, THAILAND, AND 
  VIETNAM, AND THE UNITED STATES-ASEAN SPECIAL SUMMIT IN WASHINGTON, 
 D.C., AND REAFFIRMING THE COMMITMENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO CONTINUE 
  TO REMAIN A STRONG, RELIABLE, AND ACTIVE PARTNER IN THE ASEAN REGION

  Mr. MENENDEZ (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Markey, and Mr. Romney) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 616

       Whereas the 10 members of the Association of South East 
     Asian Nations (``ASEAN'') represent a variety of different 
     cultures and beliefs;
       Whereas an estimated 7,000,000 United States citizens 
     identify with an ethnicity represented in ASEAN;
       Whereas the United States and ASEAN have been cooperating 
     to advance mutual interests for approximately 45 years, 
     having first established dialogue on September 10, 1977, 
     through the Joint Communique of the First ASEAN-United States 
     Dialogue and the United States acceded to the Treaty of Amity 
     and Cooperation in Southeast Asia at the ASEAN Post 
     Ministerial Conference Session in Thailand on July 22, 2009;
       Whereas the United States was the first non-ASEAN country 
     to appoint an ambassador to ASEAN on April 29, 2008, and the 
     first non-member to establish a permanent mission to ASEAN in 
     2010;
       Whereas cooperation between the United States Government 
     and the governments and people of ASEAN member states can 
     help realize the common goals of a free, open, peaceful, and 
     prosperous Indo-Pacific region rooted in a rules-based order 
     that promotes security, opportunity, and dignity to all 
     people;
       Whereas ASEAN member states have vibrant economies that 
     have given rise to a flourishing middle class and 
     collectively are predicted to become the fourth-largest 
     economy in the world by 2050;
       Whereas, in 2020, the 10 ASEAN member states represented 
     the fifth largest economy in the world and constituted the 
     fourth-largest export market of the United States, with total 
     exports from the United States to ASEAN countries reaching 
     $111,900,000,000;
       Whereas ASEAN is the number one destination for United 
     States investment in the Indo-Pacific, with $328,500,000,000 
     in cumulative foreign direct investment;
       Whereas ASEAN member states surround critical global sea 
     lanes, with $5,300,000,000,000 of global trade and more than 
     \1/2\ of the world's total shipped tonnage transiting through 
     the waters of such member states each year;
       Whereas the ultimate goal of the ASEAN Economic Community 
     (referred to in this preamble as ``AEC'') is to create one of 
     the largest single market economies in the world and 
     facilitate the free movement of goods, services, and 
     professionals;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN Single Window custom 
     facilitation system expedites intra-ASEAN trade and enhances 
     the ability of United States businesses to operate in the 
     region;
       Whereas the United States-ASEAN Business Alliance for 
     Competitive Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises has trained 
     more than 20,000 small-to-medium size enterprises, with 
     nearly \1/2\ of the participants being women entrepreneurs;
       Whereas the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, established in 2020 to 
     expand upon the Lower Mekong Initiative, promotes sustainable 
     long-term economic development throughout mainland Southeast 
     Asia and fosters regional cooperation, integration, and 
     capacity building;
       Whereas the Japan-U.S.-Mekong Power Partnership aims to 
     ``promote a more sustainable energy sector and quality energy 
     infrastructure development'' and demonstrates the shared 
     commitment of the United States and other Indo-Pacific 
     nations to strengthen ties with Mekong countries;
       Whereas, in 2021, the United States announced several 
     additional initiatives to enhance cooperation with ASEAN, 
     including the United States-ASEAN Health Futures, the United 
     States-ASEAN Climate Futures, the United States-ASEAN 
     Economic Futures, and the Billions Futures;
       Whereas the United States is cooperating with ASEAN member 
     states and providing emergency health assistance to enhance 
     the resilience of such member states in the face of the 
     COVID-19 pandemic, including through the recently announced 
     United States-ASEAN Health Futures program that builds on the 
     more than $3,500,000,000 the United States has invested in 
     global health collaboration with ASEAN member states over the 
     last 20 years;
       Whereas the United States remains committed to working with 
     ASEAN to improve the promotion and protection of human rights 
     and fundamental dignity of the people of ASEAN member states, 
     a key ingredient to maintaining stability, promoting economic 
     growth, and advancing good governance and rule of law;
       Whereas the Burmese armed forces conducted an illegitimate 
     coup in 2021, usurped the democratic government of Myanmar, 
     killed hundreds of civilians, and displaced more than 300,000 
     people;
       Whereas the Burmese junta has failed to make meaningful 
     progress on ASEAN's Five-Point Consensus or receive official 
     recognition from ASEAN;
       Whereas the United States remains concerned about 
     democratic backsliding and the erosion of protections of 
     fundamental human rights in Southeast Asia;
       Whereas the United States opposes all actions and claims 
     that infringe upon the freedom and lawful use of the sea and 
     has a national interest in ensuring freedom of navigation and 
     overflight, open access to the maritime commons of the Indo-
     Pacific region, and respect for international law in the 
     South China Sea;
       Whereas the United States is deeply concerned about recent 
     assertive and unsafe behavior by the People's Republic of 
     China in the South China Sea and urges all countries with 
     competing territorial claims to seek peaceful resolution of 
     disputes through collaborative diplomacy and, as necessary, 
     international dispute resolution mechanisms consistent with 
     international law;
       Whereas the United States supports the decision of the 
     Government of the Philippines to use arbitration under the 
     United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, done at 
     Montego Bay December 10, 1982, to peacefully and lawfully 
     address competing claims;
       Whereas the United States supports development of a code of 
     conduct that represents the interests of all parties and 
     promotes peace and stability in the region surrounding the 
     South China Sea, opposes efforts by any nation to use a code 
     of conduct as a vehicle to limit presence in or lawful use of 
     the South China Sea, encourages claimants not to undertake 
     new or unilateral attempts to change the status quo since the 
     signing of the 2002 Declaration of Conduct, including 
     reclamation activities or administrative measures or controls 
     in disputed areas in the South China Sea, and encourages 
     ASEAN countries to adopt a unified position in negotiating 
     the code of conduct;
       Whereas the 20th Southeast Asia Cooperation and Training 
     naval exercises featured more than 400 sailors from 21 
     countries, built greater maritime security on the strength of 
     ASEAN, strengthened navy-to-navy bonds, and exemplified the 
     shared belief in a free and open Indo-Pacific region;
       Whereas the Indo-Pacific Strategy of the United States 
     declares that ``the United States also welcomes a strong and 
     independent ASEAN that leads in Southeast Asia'' and 
     ``endorse[s] ASEAN centrality and support[s] ASEAN in its 
     efforts to deliver sustainable solutions to the region's most 
     pressing challenges'';
       Whereas natural disasters in the ASEAN region over the past 
     4 decades have resulted

[[Page S2362]]

     in major loss and damage, with a disproportionate impact on 
     developing countries;
       Whereas the United States will pursue initiatives that are 
     consistent with sustainable long-term economic development, 
     including--
       (1) achievement of food security and poverty alleviation;
       (2) improvement of conservation and sustainable management 
     of forests, fish stocks, and oceanic resources;
       (3) resilience to extreme weather events that are 
     increasing in frequency and severity; and
       (4) provision of sustainable livelihoods for local 
     communities throughout the ASEAN region; and
       Whereas, in the invitation for the United States-ASEAN 
     Leaders Summit, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., stated that 
     ``the United States is committed to ASEAN centrality and 
     remains steadfast in its support for an ASEAN-centered 
     regional architecture at the heart of the Indo-Pacific'': 
     Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes official representatives from the Governments 
     of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the 
     Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam to attend the 
     first United States-ASEAN Special Summit in Washington, D.C.;
       (2) supports the decision of the Association of South East 
     Asian Nations (referred to in this resolution as ``ASEAN'') 
     to invite non-political representatives from Myanmar to high-
     level ASEAN events and, furthermore, welcomes such non-
     political representatives to vocalize concerns on behalf of 
     the Burmese people at the United States-ASEAN Special Summit, 
     and refutes any political representation for the Burmese 
     junta;
       (3) supports and affirms the full implementation of the 
     Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-409; 
     132 Stat. 5387 et seq.) with regard to elevating the 
     relationship between the United States and ASEAN, including 
     more than $2,000,000,000 in annual appropriations for foreign 
     assistance and diplomatic operations in the Indo-Pacific 
     region;
       (4) urges the United States-ASEAN Special Summit, scheduled 
     for May 12 and 13, 2022, to prioritize--
       (A) democracy, good governance, rule of law, and human 
     rights and address the trend of democratic backsliding in 
     Southeast Asia, including the 2021 coup in Myanmar; and
       (B) the pursuit of a robust economic agenda;
       (5) reaffirms the importance of United States-ASEAN 
     economic engagement, including the elimination of barriers to 
     cross-border commerce, and supports the goals of the ASEAN 
     Economic Community (referred to in this resolution as the 
     ``AEC'') goals, including strong, inclusive, and sustainable 
     long-term economic growth and cooperation with the United 
     States that focuses on innovation and capacity-building 
     efforts in technology, education, disaster management, food 
     security, human rights, and trade facilitation, particularly 
     for the poorest ASEAN member states;
       (6) urges ASEAN to continue its efforts to foster greater 
     integration and unity within the ASEAN community, as well as 
     to foster greater integration and unity with non-ASEAN 
     economic, political, and security partners, including Japan, 
     the Republic of Korea, Australia, the European Union, Taiwan, 
     and India;
       (7) calls on ASEAN to reaffirm its commitment, consistent 
     with the fundamental principle in the ASEAN Charter and 
     Treaty of Amity and Cooperation, to the sovereignty, 
     independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine 
     within its internationally recognized borders and call for an 
     immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Russian forces from 
     Ukraine;
       (8) recognizes the value of strategic economic initiatives 
     like United States-ASEAN Connect, which demonstrates a 
     commitment to ASEAN and the AEC and builds upon economic 
     relationships in the region;
       (9) supports ASEAN member states in addressing maritime and 
     territorial disputes in a constructive manner and in pursuing 
     claims through peaceful, diplomatic, and, as necessary, 
     legitimate regional and international dispute resolution 
     mechanisms, consistent with international law, including 
     through the adoption of a code of conduct in the South China 
     Sea that represents the interests of all parties and promotes 
     peace and stability in the region;
       (10) urges all parties involved in the maritime and 
     territorial disputes in the Indo-Pacific region, including 
     the Government of the People's Republic of China--
       (A) to cease any current activities, and avoid undertaking 
     any actions in the future that undermine stability or 
     complicate or escalate disputes through the use of coercion, 
     intimidation, or military force;
       (B) to demilitarize islands, reefs, shoals, and other 
     features, and refrain from new efforts to militarize, 
     including the construction of new garrisons and facilities 
     and the relocation of additional military personnel, 
     materiel, or equipment;
       (C) to oppose actions by any country that prevent other 
     countries from exercising their sovereign rights to the 
     resources in their exclusive economic zones and continental 
     shelves by enforcing claims to those areas in the South China 
     Sea that lack support in international law; and
       (D) to oppose unilateral declarations of administrative and 
     military districts in contested areas in the South China Sea;
       (11) urges parties to refrain from unilateral actions that 
     cause permanent physical damage to the marine environment, 
     and supports the efforts of the National Oceanic and 
     Atmospheric Administration and ASEAN to implement guidelines 
     to address the illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing 
     in the region;
       (12) supports efforts by United States partners and allies 
     in ASEAN--
       (A) to enhance maritime capability and maritime domain 
     awareness;
       (B) to protect unhindered access to and use of 
     international waterways in the Indo-Pacific region that are 
     critical to ensuring the security and free flow of commerce;
       (C) to counter piracy;
       (D) to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking activities, 
     such as the trafficking of persons, goods, and drugs; and
       (E) to enhance the maritime capabilities of countries or 
     regional organizations to respond to emerging threats to 
     maritime security in the Indo-Pacific region;
       (13) urges ASEAN member states to develop a common approach 
     to reaffirm the 2016 decision of the Permanent Court of 
     Arbitration in favor of the Philippines in the case against 
     the People's Republic of China for excessive maritime claims;
       (14) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to 
     continue joint efforts with ASEAN to halt human smuggling and 
     trafficking in persons, and urges ASEAN to create and 
     strengthen regional mechanisms to provide assistance and 
     support to refugees and migrants;
       (15) supports the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, which promotes 
     the stability, peace, prosperity, and sustainable development 
     of the Mekong sub-region through cooperation between 
     countries in the Mekong region and the United States in 
     addressing transboundary challenges; ;
       (16) urges ASEAN to build capacity for the promotion and 
     protection of human rights by ASEAN member states and the 
     implementation of related priorities, programs, and 
     activities;
       (17) urges the governments of such member states to engage 
     directly with leaders of civil society and human rights 
     organizations, including advocates of religious freedom, 
     victims of human rights abuses, and environmental groups, to 
     ensure these stakeholders have a voice in constructing public 
     policy;
       (18) encourages the President to communicate to ASEAN 
     leaders the importance of promoting the rule of law and open 
     and transparent government, strengthening civil society, and 
     protecting human rights, including releasing political 
     prisoners, ceasing politically motivated prosecutions and 
     arbitrary killings, and safeguarding freedom of the press, 
     freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, and freedom of 
     speech and expression;
       (19) supports efforts by organizations in ASEAN that 
     address corruption in the public and private sectors, enhance 
     anti-bribery compliance, enforce bribery criminalization in 
     the private sector, and build beneficial ownership 
     transparency through the ASEAN-USAID PROSPECT project 
     partnered with the South East Asia Parties Against 
     Corruption;
       (20) supports the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative 
     as an example of a people-to-people partnership that provides 
     skills, networks, and leadership training to a new generation 
     who will create and fill jobs, foster cross-border 
     cooperation and partnerships, and rise to solve the regional 
     and global challenges of the future; and
       (21) applauds the governments of ASEAN member states that 
     have fully upheld and implemented all United Nations Security 
     Council resolutions and international agreements with respect 
     to nuclear and ballistic missile programs in North Korea, and 
     encourages all other governments of such member states to do 
     the same.

                          ____________________