Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the importance and vitality of the United States alliances with Japan and the Republic of Korea, and our trilateral cooperation in the pursuit of shared interests.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution reaffirms the importance of the U.S.-Japan and U.S.-South Korea alliances in promoting peace, stability, and security in the Indo-Pacific region, and reaffirms the U.S. commitment to defend both Japan and South Korea. It also states the importance of deepening diplomatic and security cooperation between the three countries.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 127 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 127

Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the importance 
and vitality of the United States alliances with Japan and the Republic 
   of Korea, and our trilateral cooperation in the pursuit of shared 
                               interests.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 13, 2019

    Mr. Engel (for himself, Mr. McCaul, Mr. Sherman, and Mr. Yoho) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
                           on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the importance 
and vitality of the United States alliances with Japan and the Republic 
   of Korea, and our trilateral cooperation in the pursuit of shared 
                               interests.

Whereas the governments and the people of the United States, Japan, and the 
        Republic of Korea share comprehensive and dynamic partnerships and 
        personal friendships rooted in shared interests and the common values of 
        freedom, democracy, and free market economies;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea are all free 
        societies committed to the principles of inclusive democracy, respect 
        for human potential, and the belief that the peaceful spread of these 
        principles will result in a safer and brighter future for all of 
        mankind;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea are indispensable 
        partners in tackling global challenges and have pledged significant 
        support for efforts to counter violent extremism, combat the 
        proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, prevent piracy, improve 
        global health and energy security, promote human rights, address climate 
        change, contribute to economic development around the world, and assist 
        the victims of conflict and disaster worldwide;
Whereas the governments and the people of the United States, Japan, and the 
        Republic of Korea all share a commitment to free and open markets, high 
        standards for the free flow of commerce and trade, and the establishment 
        of an inclusive, transparent, and sustainable architecture for regional 
        and global trade and development;
Whereas the United States-Japan and the United States-Republic of Korea 
        alliances are the foundation of regional stability in Asia, including 
        against the threat posed by the regime in Pyongyang;
Whereas cooperation between and among our nations spans economic, energy, 
        diplomatic, security, and cultural spheres;
Whereas the United States and Japan established diplomatic relations on March 
        31, 1854, with the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Amity;
Whereas the relationship between the peoples of the United States and the 
        Republic of Korea stretches back to Korea's Chosun Dynasty, when the 
        United States and Korea established diplomatic relations under the 1882 
        Treaty of Peace, Amity, Commerce, and Navigation;
Whereas 2019 marks the 74th anniversary of the end of World War II, a conflict 
        in which the United States and Japan were enemies, and the strength of 
        the United States-Japan alliance is a testament to the ability of great 
        countries to overcome the past and to work together to create a more 
        secure and prosperous future;
Whereas the United States-Korea alliance was forged in blood, with United States 
        military casualties during the Korean War of approximately 36,574 killed 
        and more than 103,284 wounded, and with Republic of Korea casualties of 
        more than 217,000 soldiers killed, more than 291,000 soldiers missing, 
        and over 1,000,000 civilians killed or missing;
Whereas, for the past 70 years, the partnership between the United States and 
        Japan has played a vital role, both in Asia and globally, in ensuring 
        peace, stability, and economic development;
Whereas, approximately 50,000 United States military personnel serve in Japan, 
        along with some of the United States most advanced defense assets, 
        including the 7th Fleet and the USS Ronald Reagan, the only United 
        States aircraft carrier to be homeported outside the United States;
Whereas, since the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the 
        Republic of Korea, signed in Washington on October 1, 1953, and ratified 
        by the Senate on January 26, 1954, United States military personnel have 
        maintained a continuous presence on the Korean Peninsula, and 
        approximately 28,500 United States troops are stationed in the Republic 
        of Korea in 2019;
Whereas the United States and the Republic of Korea have stood alongside each 
        other in the four major wars the United States has fought outside Korea 
        since World War II--in Vietnam, the Persian Gulf, Afghanistan, and Iraq;
Whereas Japan is the fourth-largest United States trading partner and together 
        with the United States represents 30 percent of global Gross Domestic 
        Product, and Japanese firms have invested $469,000,000,000 in the United 
        States;
Whereas, the economic relationship between the United States and its sixth-
        largest trading partner, the Republic of Korea, with which we have a 
        free trade agreement, includes 358,000 jobs in the United States that 
        are directly related to exports to the Republic of Korea, and has 
        resulted in more than $40,000,000,000 in investments by Korean firms in 
        the United States;
Whereas Japan and the Republic of Korea stand as strong partners of the United 
        States in efforts to ensure maritime security and freedom of navigation, 
        commerce, and overflight and to uphold respect for the rule of law and 
        to oppose the use of coercion, intimidation, or force to change the 
        regional or global status quo, including in the maritime domains of the 
        Indo-Pacific, which are among the busiest waterways in the world;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea are committed to 
        working together towards a world where the Democratic People's Republic 
        of Korea (in this preamble referred to as the ``DPRK'') does not 
        threaten global peace and security with its weapons of mass destruction, 
        missile proliferation, and illicit activities, and where the DPRK 
        respects human rights and its people can live in freedom;
Whereas section 211 of the North Korea Sanctions and Policy Enhancement Act of 
        2016 (22 U.S.C. 9231; Public Law 114-122) expresses the sense of 
        Congress that the President ``should seek to strengthen high-level 
        trilateral mechanisms for discussion and coordination of policy toward 
        North Korea between the Government of the United States, the Government 
        of South Korea, and the Government of Japan'';
Whereas the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-409) 
        underscores the importance of trilateral defense cooperation and 
        enforcement of multilateral sanctions against North Korea and calls for 
        regular consultation with Congress on the status of such efforts;
Whereas the United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea have made great 
        strides in promoting trilateral cooperation and defense partnership, 
        including ministerial meetings, information sharing, and cooperation on 
        ballistic missile defense exercises to counter North Korean 
        provocations;
Whereas Japanese Americans and Korean Americans have made invaluable 
        contributions to the security, prosperity, and diversity of our Nation, 
        including service as our elected representatives in the Senate and in 
        the House of Representatives; and
Whereas the United States Government looks forward to continuing to deepen our 
        enduring partnerships with Japan and the Republic of Korea on economic, 
        security, and cultural issues, as well as embracing new opportunities 
        for bilateral and trilateral partnerships and cooperation on emerging 
        regional and global challenges: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives reaffirms the 
importance of--
            (1) the vital role of the alliances between the United 
        States and Japan and the United States and the Republic of 
        Korea in promoting peace, stability, and security in the Indo-
        Pacific region, including through United States extended 
        deterrence, and reaffirms the commitment of the United States 
        to defend Japan, including all areas under the administration 
        of Japan, under Article V of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation 
        and Security Between the United States of America and Japan, 
        and to defend the Republic of Korea under Article III of the 
        Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the 
        Republic of Korea;
            (2) a constructive and forward-looking relationship between 
        Japan and the Republic of Korea for United States diplomatic, 
        economic, and security interests and for open and inclusive 
        architecture to support the development of a secure, stable, 
        and prosperous Indo-Pacific region;
            (3) strengthening and broadening diplomatic, economic, 
        security, and people-to-people ties between and among the 
        United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea;
            (4) developing and implementing a strategy to deepen the 
        trilateral diplomatic and security cooperation between the 
        United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, including 
        through diplomatic engagement, regional development, energy 
        security, scientific and health partnerships, educational and 
        cultural exchanges, missile defense, intelligence-sharing, 
        space, cyber, and other diplomatic and defense-related 
        initiatives;
            (5) trilateral cooperation with members of the United 
        Nations Security Council and other Member States to fully and 
        effectively enforce sanctions against the Democratic People's 
        Republic of Korea (in this resolution referred to as the 
        ``DPRK'') and evaluate additional and meaningful new measures 
        toward the DPRK under Article 41 of the United Nations Charter;
            (6) trilateral cooperation to support and uphold a rules-
        based trade and economic order in the Indo-Pacific region, 
        including the empowerment of women, which is vital for the 
        prosperity of all our nations;
            (7) supporting the expansion of academic and cultural 
        exchanges among the three nations, especially efforts to 
        encourage Japanese and Korean students to study at universities 
        in the United States, and vice versa, to deepen people-to-
        people ties; and
            (8) continued cooperation among the governments of the 
        United States, Japan, and the Republic of Korea to promote 
        human rights.
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