H. Res. 1157 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

December 11, 2018. 

Whereas the Pacific Islands countries and territories are 

home to more than 10 million culturally diverse people 

and are rooted in a unique culture and history spanning 

thousands of years; 

Whereas the South Pacific region, of which the Pacific Islands countries and territories are an integral part, is endowed with a resource-rich ocean stretching over 20 million square miles; 

Whereas the United States partnership with the countries of 

the Pacific Islands region dates back to the battles of 

World War II on the shores of Tarawa, Pelelieu, and 

Guadalcanal, where Pacific Islanders and Americans alike 

sacrificed for our collective security; 

Whereas the United States territories of American Samoa, 

Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands are located in the South Pacific region and some 

of these relationships date back to the Spanish-American 

War; 

Whereas the United States is committed to the future security and prosperity of the Pacific Islands countries and 

territories and is responsible for security and defense 

matters in and relating to Palau, the Federated States 
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of Micronesia, and the Republic of the Marshall Islands 

under their respective Compacts of Free Association; 

Whereas the Compacts of Free Association arrangements 

with the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic 

of the Marshall Islands were renewed in 2003 for a period of 20 years and negotiations regarding the subsequent renewal of these agreements should be concluded 

in advance of their expiration in 2023; 

Whereas the South Pacific region is critical to United States 

national security and defense, and there are several 

United States military bases and testing sites in the region, including the Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on the Marshall Islands; 

Whereas the United States cooperates closely with Pacific Islands countries and territories as a partner committed to 

a common future that advances national security, regional cooperation, and trust and collaborating on a wide 

range of important issues such as addressing environmental and public health threats, distributing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and promoting peace 

and prosperity in the region; 

Whereas in the Boe Declaration of 2018, leaders of Pacific 

Islands countries and territories reaffirmed that the 

threat of climate change imperils the livelihoods, security, 

and well-being of the peoples of such countries and territories; 

Whereas a major priority of Pacific Islands countries and territories is addressing environmental and sustainability 

challenges, including responding to national disasters, 

and implementing environmental programs to address 

mitigating their unique vulnerabilities to the effects of 
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rising sea levels, combatting ocean acidification, and protecting natural resources, and extreme weather events remains a priority for and point of collaboration between 

the United States and Pacific Islands countries; 

Whereas the United States works closely with Australia and 

New Zealand and other like-minded partners in the 

South Pacific region, and there is opportunity for enhancing such cooperation as all three countries look for 

opportunities to increase their focus on this important region; 

Whereas China’s increased influence in the South Pacific region and the possibility of a future Chinese military presence in this region could expand its monitoring and surveillance capabilities, threatening the United States military presence in the region; 

Whereas media reports revealed that Chinese scientists placed 

acoustic sensors in the Mariana Trench near Guam and 

near the island of Yap in the Federated States of Micronesia, which could be used to monitor United States submarine activity in the region; 

Whereas planned casino resort developments by Chinese investors on the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands could complicate Department of Defense plans on 

the islands for extensive training and exercises resulting 

from the relocation of Marines from Okinawa, Japan; 

Whereas a bilateral agreement between the United States and 

Japan will relocate approximately 4,100 United States 

Marines from Okinawa, Japan to Guam, significantly bolstering United States national security in the region; 

Whereas official Chinese Government statements and policy 

documents indicate that the Pacific Islands are a compo-
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nent of the Belt and Road Initiative, which according to 

the Department of Defense aims ‘‘to develop strong economic ties with other countries, shape their interests to 

align with China’s, and deter confrontation or criticism 

of China’s approach to sensitive issues’’; 

Whereas the Lowy Institute found that China has pledged 

$5.88 billion worth of aid to the region since 2011, yet 

despite these large commitments, China has only spent 

$1.26 billion so far and concerns remain over the types 

of loans extended and whether the commitments will be 

kept; 

Whereas recent debt sustainability analysis by the World 

Bank shows that nine Pacific Islands countries and territories are currently classified as either at high or moderate risk of debt distress; 

Whereas China continues to shrink the number of Taiwan’s 

international partners around the globe by inducing countries to switch recognition through financial incentives 

and six of Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies in the 

Pacific Islands region advocate on Taiwan’s behalf at the 

United Nations and other international fora; 

Whereas the United States plays an active role in regional 

fisheries management through its involvement in the 

Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and 

in maintaining programs to help Pacific Island countries 

combat illegal fishing, including bilateral ‘‘shiprider’’ 

agreements that allow law enforcement officers of host 

partner countries onboard United States Coast Guard 

ships and aircraft to patrol national exclusive economic 

zones; 
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Whereas the United States, through more than 17 departments and agencies, committed more than $350 million 

in fiscal year 2017 to engagement with Pacific Islands 

countries; 

Whereas the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 

Year 2018 and the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 

2018 authorized and appropriated $123.8 million in 

funding through 2024 for the 2010 Palau Compact Review Agreement; 

Whereas every two years, the United States Navy’s Pacific 

Fleet hosts the world’s largest international maritime exercise, known as the ‘‘Rim of the Pacific’’, for which this 

past year Tongan Marines traveled to Hawaii with Australia’s Navy to participate and Fiji has been invited to 

join the exercise in 2020; and 

Whereas in September 2018 at the 30th Pacific Islands 

Forum in Nauru, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke 

stated the United States ‘‘see[s] all of the Pacific Islands 

as an essential part of our free and open Indo-Pacific 

policy’’: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

(1) reaffirms its strong commitment to United 

States engagement with all countries and territories of 

the South Pacific region, including the Cook Islands, the 

Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, 

Kiribati, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, the Republic of 

Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall 

Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, 

Tuvalu, and Vanuatu; 
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(2) reaffirms its strong support to the United 

States Pacific Island territories of Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American 

Samoa, home to nearly 300,000 United States citizens; 

(3) supports continued efforts to deepen cooperation 

with countries and territories of the Pacific Islands in 

areas of mutual interest, such as addressing the negative 

impacts of climate change, promoting sustainable economic development, and supporting regional organizations and stability; 

(4) calls for the United States to increase the frequency of high-level bilateral and multilateral visits with 

leaders of Pacific Islands; 

(5) promotes and supports efforts by Australia, 

New Zealand, France, and other like-minded partners to 

strengthen Pacific Islands countries’ sovereignty and development through economic and security assistance; and 

(6) encourages continued support for the Compacts 

of Free Association which enhance the strategic posture 

of the United States in the Western Pacific, reinforce 

United States regional commitment, preempt potential 

adversaries from establishing positional advantage, and 
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further self-governance, economic development, and selfsufficiency of the Freely Associated States. 

Attest: 

Clerk.