IV 
113TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 704 
Reaffirming the strong support of the United States Government for freedom 
of navigation and other internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace 
in the Asia-Pacific region, and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution 
of outstanding territorial and maritime claims and disputes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JULY 31, 2014 
Mr. FORBES (for himself and Ms. HANABUSA) submitted the following 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs 
RESOLUTION 
Reaffirming the strong support of the United States Govern-
ment for freedom of navigation and other internationally 
lawful uses of sea and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region, 
and for the peaceful diplomatic resolution of outstanding 
territorial and maritime claims and disputes. 
Whereas Asia-Pacific’s maritime domains, which include both 
the sea and airspace above the domains, are critical to 
the region’s prosperity, stability, and security, including 
global commerce; 
Whereas the United States is a longstanding Asia-Pacific 
power and has a national interest in maintaining freedom 
of operations in international waters and airspace both in 
the Asia-Pacific region and around the world; 
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•HRES 704 IH 
Whereas, for over 60 years, the United States Government, 
alongside United States allies and partners, has played 
an instrumental role in maintaining stability in the Asia- 
Pacific, including safeguarding the prosperity and eco-
nomic growth and development of the Asia-Pacific region; 
Whereas the United States, from the earliest days of the Re-
public, has had a deep and abiding national security in-
terest in freedom of navigation, freedom of the seas, re-
spect for international law, and unimpeded lawful com-
merce, including in the East China and South China 
Seas; 
Whereas the United States alliance relationships in the re-
gion, including with Japan, Korea, Australia, the Phil-
ippines, and Thailand, are at the heart of United States 
policy and engagement in the Asia-Pacific region, and 
share a common approach to supporting the maintenance 
of peace and stability, freedom of navigation, and other 
internationally lawful uses of sea and airspace in the 
Asia-Pacific region; 
Whereas territorial and maritime claims must be derived 
from land features and otherwise comport with inter-
national law; 
Whereas the United States Government has a clear interest 
in encouraging and supporting the nations of the region 
to work collaboratively and diplomatically to resolve dis-
putes and is firmly opposed to coercion, intimidation, 
threats, or the use of force; 
Whereas the South China Sea contains great natural re-
sources, and their stewardship and responsible use offers 
immense potential benefit for generations to come; 
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•HRES 704 IH 
Whereas the United States is not a claimant party in either 
the East China or South China Seas, but does have an 
interest in the peaceful diplomatic resolution of disputed 
claims in accordance with international law, in freedom 
of operations, and in the free-flow of commerce free of 
coercion, intimidation, or the use of force; 
Whereas the United States supports the obligation of all 
members of the United Nations to seek to resolve dis-
putes by peaceful means; 
Whereas freedom of navigation and other lawful uses of sea 
and airspace in the Asia-Pacific region are embodied in 
international law, not granted by certain states to others; 
Whereas, on November 23, 2013, the People’s Republic of 
China unilaterally and without prior consultations with 
the United States, Japan, the Republic of Korea or other 
nations of the Asia-Pacific region, declared an Air De-
fense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in the East China Sea, 
also announcing that all aircraft entering the PRC’s self- 
declared ADIZ, even if they do not intend to enter Chi-
nese territorial airspace, would have to submit flight 
plans, maintain radio contact, and follow directions from 
the Chinese Ministry of National Defense or face ‘‘emer-
gency defensive measures’’; 
Whereas the ‘‘rules of engagement’’ declared by China, in-
cluding the ‘‘emergency defensive measures’’, are in viola-
tion of the concept of ‘‘due regard for the safety of civil 
aviation’’ under the International Civil Aviation Organi-
zation’s Chicago Convention and thereby are a departure 
from accepted practice; 
Whereas the Chicago Convention of the International Civil 
Aviation Organization distinguishes between civilian air-
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