III 

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; 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
2 

•SRES 834 IS 

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 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
3 

•SRES 834 IS 

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 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes that— 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB
4 

•SRES 834 IS 

1 (A) Second Thomas Shoal lies within the 

2 exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the 

3 Philippines; and 

4 (B) the People’s Republic of China’s effort 

5 to harass and endanger Philippine vessels in the 

6 area are violations of Philippine sovereign 

7 rights; 

8 (2) supports efforts to increase military assist9 ance to the Republic of the Philippines to assist in 

10 its effort to combat blatant aggression by the Peo11 ple’s Republic of China in the South China Sea, in12 cluding near Second Thomas Shoal; 

13 (3) reaffirms the commitments made by the 

14 United States to the Republic of the Philippines in 

15 the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense 

16 Treaty; and 

17 (4) encourages increased cooperation and train18 ing with the Republic of the Philippines, including 

19 with the Philippine Coast Guard, and strong invest20 ments in United States shipbuilding and other 

21 United States military capabilities to ensure that 

22 our obligations to the Philippines will be carried out. 

Æ 


kjohnson on DSK7ZCZBW3PROD with $$_JOB