A 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.

Bill: 118-sres-834
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC]
Introduced: 2024-09-19
Policy area: International Affairs
Latest action: action_date: 2024-09-19
text: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S6226)

Summaries:

tv_txt: III 118th CONGRESS 2d Session S. RES. 834 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; 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 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

That the Senate— (1) recognizes that— (A) Second Thomas Shoal lies within the exclusive economic zone of the Republic of the Philippines; and (B) the People’s Republic of China’s effort to harass and endanger Philippine vessels in the area are violations of Philippine sovereign rights; (2) supports efforts to increase military assistance to the Republic of the Philippines to assist in its effort to combat blatant aggression by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea, including near Second Thomas Shoal; (3) reaffirms the commitments made by the United States to the Republic of the Philippines in the 1951 United States-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty; and (4) encourages increased cooperation and training with the Republic of the Philippines, including with the Philippine Coast Guard, and strong investments in United States shipbuilding and other United States military capabilities to ensure that our obligations to the Philippines will be carried out.