III

Calendar No. 129

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 97

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to peace and stability in

the South China Sea.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

MARCH 30 (legislative day, MARCH 27), 1995

Mr. THOMAS (for himself, Mr. ROBB, Mr. SIMON, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mr.

MCCAIN, Mr. SIMPSON, Mr. KERRY, Mr. LUGAR, Mr. ROTH, Mr.

INOUYE, Mr. LIEBERMAN, Mr. PELL, and Mr. HELMS) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign

Relations

JUNE 20 (legislative day, JUNE 19), 1995

Reported by Mr. HELMS, with amendments and an amendment to the

preamble

[Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic]

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to peace

and stability in the South China Sea.

Whereas the South China Sea is a strategically important waterway through which transits approximately 25 percent

of the World’s ocean freight, including almost 70 percent

of Japan’s oil supply;
2

•SRES 97 RS

Whereas the South China Sea serves as a crucial sea lane for

naval vessels of the United States and other countries,

especially in times of emergency;

Whereas the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of the

Philippines, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the Republic of China on Taiwan, the State of Brunei

Darussalam, and Malaysia have overlapping and mutually

exclusive claims to portions of the South China Sea, especially in the Spratly Island group;

Whereas some of the nations which have claims to portions of

the South China Sea are modernizing their military

forces, strengthening their ability to project power outside

their domestic boundaries, and consequently, are altering

the strategic balance of power in the region;

Whereas this power projection capability further drives the

concern of nations with territorial claims over acts of aggression in the South China Sea by other nations with

claims;

Whereas these competing claims have led to armed conflicts

between several of the claimants;

Whereas these conflicts threaten the peace and stability of all

of East Asia; and

Whereas the 1992 Manila Declaration of the Association of

South East Asian Nations, also recognized by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the People’s Republic of

China, calls on the claimants to exercise restraint and

seek a peaceful negotiated solution to the conflicts: Now,

therefore, be it

1 Resolved, That the Senate—
3

•SRES 97 RS

1 (1) urges the executive branch to reiterate reit2 erates to the claimants in the South China Sea that

3 the United States does not take a position on any

4 individual claim;

5 (2) calls upon all of the claimants to refrain

6 from using military force or similarly aggressive ac7 tion to assert or expand territorial claims in the

8 South China Sea;

9 (3) urges the executive branch to declare the

10 active support of the United States for the 1992

11 Manila Declaration of the Association of South East

12 Asian Nations, and calls upon all the claimants to

13 observe faithfully its provisions; and

14 (4) calls upon the claimants to scrupulously ob15 serve the January, 1995 status quo ante pending

16 any negotiations or resolution of the conflicts be17 tween such claimants over such claims.

18 (4) would view with profound concern and dis19 approval any maritime claim or restriction on mari20 time activity in the South China Sea not strictly con21 sistent with international law.
Calendar No. 129

104TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION S. RES. 97

RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to

peace and stability in the South China Sea.

JUNE 20 (legislative day, JUNE 19), 1995

Reported with amendments and an amendment to the

preamble