[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 59 (Monday, April 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2647-S2648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS

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SENATE RESOLUTION 626--RECOGNIZING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE UNITED STATES-
JAPAN ALLIANCE AND WELCOMING THE VISIT OF PRIME MINISTER KISHIDA FUMIO 
                          TO THE UNITED STATES

  Mr. CARDIN (for himself, Mr. Risch, Mr. Hagerty, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Van 
Hollen, and Mr. Romney) submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 626

       Whereas the United States-Japan alliance remains a 
     cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity and 
     underscores the unwavering commitment of United States to 
     Japan and the Indo-Pacific region;
       Whereas the United States and Japan established diplomatic 
     relations with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity 
     on March 31, 1854;
       Whereas January 19, 2024, marked the 64th anniversary of 
     the signing of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security 
     between the United States and Japan;
       Whereas, in May 2016, then-President Barack Obama made a 
     historic visit to Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park, and in 
     December 2016, then-Prime Minister Abe Shinzo made a historic 
     visit to Pearl Harbor, demonstrating the willingness both 
     nations to overcome the most sensitive aspects of our shared 
     history to form the powerful alliance that exists today;
       Whereas, during the U.S.-Japan Security Consultative 
     Committee (2+2) on January 11, 2023, both countries resolved 
     to advance bilateral alliance modernization initiatives to 
     build a more capable, integrated, and agile alliance that 
     bolsters deterrence and addresses evolving regional and 
     global security challenges;
       Whereas, under the premiership of Kishida Fumio, the 
     Government of Japan has taken historic steps to modernize 
     Japan's national security strategy and defense policy through 
     the release of the 2022 National Security Strategy, the 
     National Defense Strategy, and Defense Buildup Program, 
     including commitments to increase defense spending to 2 
     percent of GDP within 5 years and to develop counterstrike 
     capabilities;
       Whereas the United States and Japan have deepened their 
     defense cooperation through various bilateral and 
     multilateral exercises and across domains that include space 
     and cyber;
       Whereas the Government of Japan shares the costs of 
     stationing approximately 55,000 members of the United States 
     Armed Forces, civilians, and family members in Japan, and 
     enables the United States to forward deploy significant 
     military resources such as the USS Ronald Reagan and the F-35 
     Joint Strike Fighter, to meet the alliance's current and 
     future security challenges;
       Whereas the United States' extended deterrence commitments 
     to Japan remain ironclad and backed by the full range of 
     United States capabilities;
       Whereas the Senkaku Islands fall within the scope of 
     Article V of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and 
     Security;
       Whereas a strong trilateral relationship between and among 
     the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan is vital 
     for promoting Indo-Pacific security, defending freedom and 
     democracy, and upholding human rights and rule of law;
       Whereas, in August 2023, Japan Prime Minister Kishida 
     Fumio, Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, and United 
     States President Joseph R. Biden announced a ``new era of 
     trilateral partnership'' at the Camp David Summit, including 
     a ``commitment to consult'' in an expeditious manner 
     regarding regional challenges, provocations, and threats 
     affecting trilateral collective interests and security;
       Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea 
     have deepened mutual cooperation and dialogue in a series of 
     fields, including--
       (1) the trilateral Indo-Pacific Dialogue;
       (2) the expansion of a multi-year schedule for trilateral 
     military exercises, including the first-ever trilateral 
     aerial exercise;
       (3) the activation of the real-time Democratic People's 
     Republic of Korea (DPRK) missile warning data sharing 
     mechanism;
       (4) the establishment of new trilateral people-to-people 
     exchanges, including a trilateral youth summit and a 
     technology leaders training program; and
       (5) the creation of a trilateral Diplomatic Working Group 
     to counter cyber threats posed by the DPRK;
       Whereas the trilateral partnership currently faces a unique 
     opportunity to drive shared priorities at the United Nations 
     Security Council, while both Japan and the Republic of Korea 
     serve as nonpermanent representatives;
       Whereas, in May 2023, during the G7 Hiroshima Summit, G7 
     leaders underscored their enduring support for Ukraine's 
     sovereignty, reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability 
     in the Taiwan Strait, took steps to secure critical supply 
     chains, demonstrated ongoing commitments to strengthening 
     global health security, and more;
       Whereas Japan continues to work closely with the United 
     States and other G7 partners to stand against economic 
     coercion by adversaries, including through the establishment 
     of the G7 Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion;
       Whereas, since the beginning of Russia's unprovoked and 
     unjustified invasion of Ukraine, Japan has demonstrated its 
     strong support for Ukraine, including through high-level 
     diplomatic engagements, humanitarian and security assistance, 
     financial support, and coordinating sanctions against Russia 
     with the United States and other G7 countries;
       Whereas, in February 2024, Japan hosted the Japan-Ukraine 
     Conference for Promotion of Economic Growth and 
     Reconstruction, which facilitated cooperation between Japan 
     and Ukraine, including public-private partnerships, to 
     support Ukraine's future development across sectors, 
     including infrastructure, energy, agriculture, and 
     information technology, and announced the opening of a new 
     government trade office in Kyiv, as well as $105,000,000 in 
     new aid for Ukraine;
       Whereas Japan has contributed to supporting the Indo-
     Pacific region's development, stability, and prosperity 
     through the Quad's positive, practical agenda with the United 
     States, Australia, and India, including through the third in-
     person Quad Leaders' Summit in May 2023, where Quad members 
     reaffirmed their commitment to a ``free and open Indo-Pacific 
     that is inclusive and resilient'';
       Whereas Japan has worked with the members of the Quad to 
     strengthen cooperation on health security, environment, 
     maritime domain awareness, critical and emerging 
     technologies, space, infrastructure development, cyber 
     resilience, and more;
       Whereas Japan has contributed to the promotion of quality 
     infrastructure investment, and the United States and Japan 
     continue to share an interest in energy security and 
     cooperation on advanced energy technologies;
       Whereas Japan has made critical contributions to the 
     development of Open Radio Access Network (O-RAN) technology 
     and worked closely with the United States to promote an open, 
     free, interoperable, reliable, and secure internet, including 
     through initiatives such as the Global Digital Connectivity 
     Partnership;
       Whereas, in June 2023, Japan joined the United States and 
     Australia in signing an agreement to develop a $95,000,000 
     undersea cable project that is expected to connect more than 
     100,000 individuals across three countries in the Pacific;
       Whereas Japan is one of the largest trading partners of the 
     United States, with bilateral trade totaling over 
     $300,000,000,000 in 2022, and Japan continues to hold the 
     largest share of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the 
     United States, making the United States-Japan bilateral 
     economic relationship one of the world's strongest;
       Whereas, during an official visit in November 2017 to 
     Japan, President Donald J. Trump underscored the importance 
     of expanding trade and foreign direct investment between the 
     United States and Japan to strengthen economic growth and job 
     creation, and on October 7, 2019, the Governments of the 
     United States and Japan signed the U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement 
     and U.S.-Japan Digital Trade Agreement, and these agreements 
     entered into force on January 1, 2020;
       Whereas, in January 2022, the United States and Japan 
     established the Economic Policy Consultative Committee 
     (``Economic 2+2''), which convened for a second ministerial 
     meeting in November 2023, on the sidelines of the Asia-
     Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit;
       Whereas the Government of Japan-sponsored Japan Exchange 
     and Teaching (JET) program has more than 35,000 United States

[[Page S2648]]

     alumni and represents one of many exchanges that have 
     cemented our close people-to-people ties;
       Whereas, every year, more than 1,000,000 individuals visit 
     Washington, D.C., to celebrate the National Cherry Blossom 
     Festival, which serves as a reminder of the enduring 
     friendship between the United States and Japan; and
       Whereas, in April 2024, Prime Minister Kishida Fumio will 
     visit the United States at the invitation of President Joseph 
     R. Biden, Jr.: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) welcomes Prime Minister Kishida Fumio to the United 
     States;
       (2) reaffirms the strong and long-standing partnership 
     between the Governments of the United States and Japan, 
     rooted in a shared commitment to upholding peace, security, 
     and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond;
       (3) stands ready to support efforts to build a more capable 
     and modernized alliance to address regional and global 
     security challenges;
       (4) applauds the commitment of the Government of Japan to 
     defense modernization, including its goal to increase defense 
     spending to 2 percent of GDP by 2027;
       (5) reaffirms the commitment of the United States to the 
     defense of Japan under Article V of the U.S.-Japan Security 
     Treaty;
       (6) reaffirms that the Senkaku Islands fall within the 
     scope of Article V of the U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual 
     Cooperation and Security, and that the United States remains 
     opposed to any unilateral attempts to change the status quo 
     in the East China Sea or undermine Japan's administration of 
     these islands;
       (7) recognizes the unprecedented convergence of the 
     national security and defense strategies between our two 
     nations, as well as the need to further bolster deterrence in 
     the Indo-Pacific;
       (8) supports Japan's efforts to expand security cooperation 
     with other United States allies and partners, most notably 
     with the Republic of Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, 
     the Philippines and India;
       (9) applauds recent advancements in trilateral cooperation 
     among the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea 
     (ROK), as well as bilateral Japan-ROK relations;
       (10) encourages efforts to strengthen engagement with Japan 
     in bilateral and multilateral forums, including the Quad;
       (11) acknowledges Japan's leadership as the G7 host nation 
     in 2023, including its coordination among G7 members to 
     address economic coercion, as well as the announcement of the 
     G7 AI Principles and Code of Conduct, and focus on support 
     for Ukraine;
       (12) calls for continued cooperation between the 
     Governments of the United States and Japan in promoting our 
     shared democratic values and respect for human rights; and
       (13) commits to strengthening and deepening diplomatic, 
     economic, security, and people-to-people ties between the 
     United States and Japan.

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