IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. RES. 223 

Calling on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to cease its retaliatory 

measures against the Republic of Korea in response to the deployment 

of the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to U.S. 

Forces Korea (USFK), and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 23, 2017 

Mr. YOHO (for himself, Mr. MARINO, Mr. KELLY of Pennsylvania, Mr. CONNOLLY, Mr. ROGERS of Alabama, and Mr. BERA) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and 

in addition to the Committee on Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such 

provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

RESOLUTION 

Calling on the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to cease 

its retaliatory measures against the Republic of Korea 

in response to the deployment of the U.S. Terminal 

High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) to U.S. Forces 

Korea (USFK), and for other purposes. 

Whereas the United States-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance 

constitutes a lynchpin of United States foreign policy in 

maintaining peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, 

in Northeast Asia and beyond; 

Whereas the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea 

(DPRK), also known as North Korea, has continued enVerDate Sep 11 2014 02:22 Mar 24, 2017 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR223.IH HR223

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•HRES 223 IH 

gaging in destabilizing provocations by developing and 

testing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in clear 

violation of six United Nations Security Council Resolutions; 

Whereas, on March 5, 2017, North Korea launched four ballistic missiles from Tongchang-ri, in northwest North 

Korea that flew an average of 620 miles before falling 

into the sea between North Korea and Japan, following 

the launch on February 11, 2017; 

Whereas the 15-member United Nations Security Council 

issued a statement condemning the March 5 missile 

launches as being ‘‘in grave violation of North Korea’s 

international obligations’’ under six relevant Security 

Council resolutions; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea and the United States made 

an alliance decision to deploy the Terminal High Altitude 

Area Defense (THAAD) system to U.S. Forces Korea 

(USFK) as a self-defensive measure to ensure the security of the ROK and its people, and to protect Alliance 

military forces from North Korea’s growing weapons of 

mass destruction and ballistic missile threats; 

Whereas, on March 6, 2017, the first components of the 

THAAD anti-missile system, including two launchers, arrived at Osan Air Base in the Republic of Korea; 

Whereas the Republic of Korea and the United States reiterated on numerous occasions that the THAAD system 

would be deployed solely for the purpose of defending 

against North Korean nuclear and missile threats and 

would not be directed towards any third-party nations; 

Whereas U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) stated that 

‘‘North Korea’s accelerating program of nuclear weapons 


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•HRES 223 IH 

tests and ballistic missile launches constitute a threat to 

international peace and security,’’ and that the THAAD 

battery is a ‘‘strictly defensive capability’’ and ‘‘poses no 

threat to other countries in the region’’; 

Whereas Hwang Kyo-Ahn, the Acting President of the Republic of Korea reiterated the need for early deployment 

of THAAD and further stated that the Government of 

the Republic of Korea would look aggressively for ‘‘ways 

to effectively strengthen the United States extended deterrence’’ in South Korea; 

Whereas a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign 

Affairs, Geng Shuang, denounced the alliance’s decision 

to deploy the THAAD system and vowed that Beijing 

would ‘‘take the necessary steps to safeguard our own security interests’’ further warning that the two countries 

should not ‘‘go further and further down the wrong 

road’’; 

Whereas China has engaged in unreasonable and inappropriate retaliatory measures against the Republic of 

Korea, its businesses and its people in an attempt to halt 

the deployment of THAAD; 

Whereas no less than fifty-five Lotte supermarkets across 

China had been shut down and the Korean businesses located across China have been the target of various inspections by the Chinese authorities following the Lotte 

Group’s swap of a golf course in Seongju for the THAAD 

battery site; 

Whereas an American company partnering with Lotte has 

also been directly affected by these measures; 

Whereas travel industry sources in China said they were instructed by the Chinese authorities not to sell any tour 


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•HRES 223 IH 

packages to South Korea, both group and individual, effective March 15, 2017; 

Whereas Secretary of State Rex Tillerson stated on March 

17, 2017, that this ‘‘is not the way for a regional power 

to help resolve what is a serious threat to everyone,’’ and 

that ‘‘we urge China to address the threat that makes it 

necessary, that being the escalating threat from North 

Korea’’; 

Whereas China cancelled numerous cultural shows and music 

performances agreed to and under contract with agencies 

and companies from the Republic of Korea; 

Whereas China’s retaliatory measures against South Korea 

potentially constitutes a violation of its World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations; and 

Whereas China’s retaliatory measures against South Korea in 

an attempt to block the implementation of THAAD is 

unacceptable: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) condemns North Korea’s recent ballistic 

3 missile tests and its announcement of being ‘‘in the 

4 final stages’’ of a potential Intercontinental ballistic 

5 missile (ICBM) test; 

6 (2) urges the United States Government to take 

7 all necessary measures to protect its citizens and al8 lies in the region and closely cooperate with the 

9 international community to eliminate North Korea’s 

10 nuclear and ballistic missile programs. 


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•HRES 223 IH 

1 (3) supports the prompt deployment of the 

2 THAAD system to counter the North Korean threat 

3 and welcomes the arrival of its first elements into 

4 USFK in the Republic of Korea; 

5 (4) commends the Government of the Republic 

6 of Korea for its firm commitment and timely co7 operation to ensure the effective deployment of 

8 THAAD; 

9 (5) condemns China’s retaliatory measures 

10 against the Republic of Korea, its businesses and its 

11 people in response to the deployment of the THAAD 

12 to protect against North Korea; 

13 (6) urges the Chinese government to imme14 diately cease its diplomatic intimidation and eco15 nomic coercion against the Republic of Korea in an 

16 attempt to block the THAAD deployment; and 

17 (7) calls on the Chinese government to exercise 

18 its considerable influence to pressure North Korea to 

19 give up its nuclear and ballistic missile programs in20 stead of undermining South Korea’s sovereign right 

21 to defend itself against the North Korean threat. 

Æ 


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