[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 146 (Thursday, September 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S6226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





  SENATE RESOLUTION 834--REAFFIRMING THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES' 
 CLAIM OVER SECOND THOMAS SHOAL AND SUPPORTING THE FILIPINO PEOPLE IN 
THEIR EFFORTS TO COMBAT AGGRESSION BY THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA IN 
                          THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mrs. Britt, Mr. Rubio, and Mr. 
Hagerty) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 834

       Whereas Second Thomas Shoal (also known as ``Ayungin 
     Shoal'') is located within the Spratly Islands inside the 
     Philippines' exclusive economic zone;
       Whereas in 1951, the United States and the Republic of the 
     Philippines signed the United States-Philippines Mutual 
     Defense Treaty, making the two countries treaty allies;
       Whereas in 1999, the Philippine Navy intentionally grounded 
     the BRP Sierra Madre on Second Thomas Shoal to establish a 
     maritime outpost in the Spratly Islands;
       Whereas since grounding the BRP Sierra Madre, the 
     Philippines has continuously hosted a contingent of 
     Philippine Marines on the ship;
       Whereas the People's Republic of China falsely claims 
     ``indisputable sovereignty'' over Second Thomas Shoal and 
     other areas surrounding the shoal;
       Whereas the People's Republic of China has repeatedly 
     engaged in increasingly hostile and aggressive behavior 
     towards Filipino fishermen and Coast Guard vessels around 
     Second Thomas Shoal, including by deploying tear gas, firing 
     water cannons, deliberately ramming other vessels, and 
     blocking Philippine vessels' maritime routes;
       Whereas in December 2023, a vessel operated by the Coast 
     Guard of the People's Republic of China surrounded a Filipino 
     supply ship and assaulted it with water cannons as it 
     operated in an area around Second Thomas Shoal;
       Whereas on May 19, 2024, the Coast Guard of the People's 
     Republic of China harassed and attempted to stop a Philippine 
     vessel that was evacuating sick personnel from the BRP Sierra 
     Madre;
       Whereas on June 17, 2024, the Coast Guard of the People's 
     Republic of China brutally assaulted a Philippine Coast Guard 
     vessel en route to resupply the BRP Sierra Madre, which 
     injured at least eight Filipino sailors and caused one 
     Filipino sailor to lose a thumb;
       Whereas on July 22, 2024, it was reported that the People's 
     Republic of China and the Republic of the Philippines reached 
     an agreement designed to reduce hostilities around Second 
     Thomas Shoal;
       Whereas on August 19, 2024, the People's Republic of China 
     ignored the July 22, 2024, agreement and intentionally rammed 
     two Philippine Coast Guard vessels on a resupply mission near 
     Second Thomas Shoal;
       Whereas on August 26, 2024, the People's Republic of China 
     deployed 40 ships to block two Philippine vessels, which were 
     attempting to resupply the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the flagship 
     of the Philippine Coast Guard;
       Whereas on August 31, 2024, vessels operated by the 
     People's Republic of China repeatedly rammed and surrounded 
     the BRP Teresa Magbanua in an area east of Second Thomas 
     Shoal, which caused damages to its hull;
       Whereas Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has reiterated 
     the United States policy that ``an armed attack on Philippine 
     Armed Forces' public vessels or aircraft in the Pacific, 
     including the South China Sea, would invoke U.S. defense 
     commitments under our mutual defense treaty'';
       Whereas the Department of State has reaffirmed that the 
     United States ``stands with its ally, the Philippines, and 
     condemns the dangerous and escalatory actions by the People's 
     Republic of China (PRC) against lawful Philippine maritime 
     operations ...''; and
       Whereas, the Department of State has also stated, ``The 
     United States reaffirms that Article IV of the 1951 United 
     States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty extends to armed 
     attacks on Philippine armed forces, public vessels, or 
     aircraft - including those of its Coast Guard - anywhere in 
     the South China Sea'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) recognizes that--
       (A) Second Thomas Shoal lies within the exclusive economic 
     zone of the Republic of the Philippines; and
       (B) the People's Republic of China's effort to harass and 
     endanger Philippine vessels in the area are violations of 
     Philippine sovereign rights;
       (2) supports efforts to increase military assistance to the 
     Republic of the Philippines to assist in its effort to combat 
     blatant aggression by the People's Republic of China in the 
     South China Sea, including near Second Thomas Shoal;
       (3) reaffirms the commitments made by the United States to 
     the Republic of the Philippines in the 1951 United States-
     Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty; and
       (4) encourages increased cooperation and training with the 
     Republic of the Philippines, including with the Philippine 
     Coast Guard, and strong investments in United States 
     shipbuilding and other United States military capabilities to 
     ensure that our obligations to the Philippines will be 
     carried out.

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