[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 834 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 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.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 19, 2024
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
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
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.
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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