,i  #aac? ,,congress  #a/ ,session  ,h4 
,r4 #ggb  ,,9 ,,! ,,h\se ,,(            
,,repres5tatives  ,febru>y #ae1 #bjac   
,mr4 ,faleomavaega 7= himself1 ,ms4     
,ros-,leht951 & ,mr4 ,*abot7 introduc$ !
 foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 ref]r$ to !         
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs1 & 9      
addition to ! ,committee on ,arm$       
,s]vices1 = a p]iod to be subsequ5tly   
det]m9$ by ! ,speak]1 9 ea* case =      
consid]ation ( su* provisions z fall )9 
! jurisdiction ( ! committee conc]n$  ,a
 ,,bill  ,to promote peaceful &         
collaborative resolution ( ! ,s\? ,*9a  
,sea dispute4  #a4 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds
 ! foll[+3  7#a7 ,! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea      
conta9s vital comm]cial %ipp+ lanes &   
po9ts ( access betwe5 ! ,indian ,ocean &
 ,pacific ,ocean1 provid+ a m>itime     
lifel9e to ,india1 ,s+apore1 ,malaysia1 
,indonesia1 ! ,philipp9es1 ,vietnam1    
,brunei1 ,taiwan1 ,japan1 & ! ,korean   
p59sula4  7#b7 ,*9a1 ,vietnam1 !        
,philipp9es1 ,taiwan1 ,malaysia1 &      
,brunei h disput$ t]ritorial claims ov] 

! ,spratly ,isl&s1 & ,*9a1 ,taiwan1 &   
,vietnam h disput$ t]ritorial claims ov]
 ! ,p>acel ,isl&s4  7#c7 ,9 #bjji1 !    
,gov]nm5t ( ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a     
submitt$ to ! ,unit$ ,nations a map ) ! 
#i-;dott$ l9e 7also kn[n z ! ,c[ ,tongue
 l9e7 :i* rais$ que/ions ab\t :e!r ,*9a 
(ficially claims mo/ ( ! #a1dbc1jjj     
squ>e miles ( ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 m ?an   
any o!r nation involv$ 9 ^! t]ritorial  
disputes4  7#d7 ,9 ,novemb] #bjab1 ,*9a 
began to include a map ( its t]ritorial 
claims inside its passports1 despite !  
prote/s ( its neighbors1 includ+        
,vietnam & ! ,philipp9es4  7#e7 ,al?\gh 
n a p>ty to ^! disputes1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 has a national economic & security     
int]e/ 9 ma9ta9+ peace1 /ability1 &     
prosp]ity 9 ,ea/ ,asia & ,s\!a/ ,asia1 &
 ensur+ t no p>ty ?reat5s or uses =ce or
 co]cion unilat]ally to ass]t m>itime   
t]ritorial claims 9 ,ea/ ,asia & ,s\!a/ 
,asia1 includ+ 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 !    
,ea/ ,*9a ,sea1 or ! ,yell[ ,sea4  7#f7 
,! ,association ( ,s\!a/ ,asian ,nations

 7,,asean7 has promot$ multilat]al talks
 9 disput$ areas )\t settl+ ! issue (   
sov]eignty4  7#g7 ,9 #bjjb1 ,,asean &   
,*9a sign$ a ,decl>ation on ! ,conduct (
 ,p>ties 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea4  7#h7 ,t   
decl>ation committ$ all p>ties to ^?    
t]ritorial disputes to reaffirm _!      
respect = & commitm5t to ! fre$om (     
navigation 9 & ov] flight above ! ,s\?  
,*9a ,sea z provid$ = by ! univ]sally   
recogniz$ pr9ciples ( int]national law1 
& to resolve _! t]ritorial &            
jurisdictional disputes by peaceful     
means1 )\t resort+ to ! ?reat or use (  
=ce4  7#i7 ,9 ,july & ,novemb] ( #bjaj1 
! ,unit$ ,/ates & our ,republic ( ,korea
 allies conduct$ jo9t naval ex]cises 9 !
 ,yell[ ,sea 9 int]national wat]s1 z    
well z ,republic ( ,korea t]ritorial    
wat]s1 9 ! vic9ity ( ! site ( ! ,m>*    
#bjaj ,nor? ,korean attack on ! ,s\?    
,korean milit>y vessel ,*eonan1 ^!      
ex]cises drew objections f ,beij+ ov]   
=eign op]ations 9 ! ,yell[ ,sea4  7#aj7 
,9 ,septemb] #bjaj1 t5sions 7 rais$ 9 ! 

,ea/ ,*9a ,sea ne> ! ,s5kaku            
7,diaoyutai7 ,isl&s1 a t]ritory "u !    
legal adm9i/ration ( ,japan1 :5 a ,*9ese
 fi%+ vessel delib]ately ramm$ ,japanese
 ,coa/ ,gu>d patrol boats4  7#aa7 ,on   
,febru>y #be1 #bjaa1 a frigate f ,*9a's 
navy fir$ %ots at #c fi%+ boats f !     
,philipp9es4  7#ab7 ,on ,m>* #b1 #bjaa1 
! ,gov]nm5t ( ! ,philipp9es report$ t   
two patrol boats f ,*9a attempt$ to ram 
"o ( its surveillance %ips4  7#ac7 ,on  
,may #bf1 #bjaa1 a m>itime security     
vessel f ,*9a cut ! cables ( an         
exploration %ip f ,vietnam1 ! ,b9h ,m9h1
 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea 9 wat]s ne> ,cam    
,ranh ,bay 9 ! exclusive economic zone (
 ,vietnam4  7#ad7 ,on ,may #ca1 #bjaa1  
?ree ,*9ese milit>y vessels us$ guns to 
?reat5 ! crews ( f\r ,vietnamese fi%+   
boats :ile !y 7 fi%+ 9 ! wat]s ( !      
,truong ,sa 7,spratly7 ar*ipelago4      
7#ae7 ,on ,june #c1 #bjaa1 ,vietnam's   
,=eign ,m9i/ry releas$ a /atem5t t      
,vietnam is resolutely oppos$ to ^! acts
 by ,*9a t s]i\sly violat$ ! sov]eign & 

jurisdiction rights ( ,viet ,nam to its 
cont95tal %elf & ,exclusive ,economic   
,zone 7,,eez74  7#af7 ,on ,june #i1     
#bjaa1 ?ree vessels f ,*9a1 includ+ "o  
fi%+ vessel & two m>itime security      
vessels1 ran into & disabl$ ! cables (  
ano!r exploration %ip f ,vietnam1 !     
,vik+ #b1 9 ! exclusive economic zone ( 
,vietnam4  7#ag7 ,! actions ( !         
,gov]nm5t ( ! ,p's ,republic ( ,*9a 9 ! 
,s\? ,*9a ,sea h also affect$ ,unit$    
,/ates milit>y & m>itime vessels &      
aircraft transit+ ?r\gh int]national air
 space & wat]s1 includ+ ! collision ( a 
,*9ese fight] plane ) a ,unit$ ,/ates   
surveillance plane 9 #bjja1 ! h>assm5t (
 ! ,,usns ,victori\s & ! ,,usns         
,impeccable 9 ,m>* #bjji1 & ! collision 
( a ,*9ese subm>9e ) ! son> cable ( !   
,,uss ,john ,mc,cain 9 ,june #bjji4     
7#ah7 ,on ,july #bc1 #bjaj1 =m]         
,secret>y ( ,/ate ,hill>y ,rodham       
,cl9ton /at$ at ! ,,asean ,regional ,=um
 t ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 l e nation1 has a   
national int]e/ 9 fre$om ( navigation1  

op5 access to ,asia's m>itime commons1  
respect = int]national law1 & unimp$$   
comm]ce 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea4  7#ai7 ,on  
,june #bc1 #bjaa1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates /at$ t
 x 0 ready to provide h>dw>e to mod]nize
 ! milit>y ( ! ,philipp9es4  7#bj7 ,!   
,unit$ ,/ates & ! ,philipp9es conduct$  
comb9$ naval ex]cises 9 ! ,sulu ,sea1   
ne> ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 f ,june #bh to    
,july #h1 #bjaa4  7#ba7 ,on ,july #bb1  
#bjaa1 an ,indian naval vessel1 sail+   
ab\t #de nautical miles (f ! coa/ (     
,vietnam1 0 w>n$ by a ,*9ese naval      
vessel t x 0 alleg$ly violat+ ,*9ese    
t]ritorial wat]s4  7#bb7 ,9 ,june #bjab1
 ,*9a's cab9et1 ! ,/ate ,c\ncil1 approv$
 ! e/abli%m5t ( ! city ( ,san%a to      
ov]see ! areas claim$ by ,*9a 9 ! ,s\?  
,*9a ,sea4  7#bc7 ,9 ,july #bjab1 ,*9ese
 milit>y au?orities ann\nc$ t !y _h     
e/abli%$ a correspond+ ,san%a g>rison 9 
! new prefecture4  7#bd7 ,on ,june #bc1 
#bjab1 ! ,*9a ,national ,(f%ore ,oil    
,corporation invit$ bids = oil          
exploration 9 areas )9 #bjj nautical    

miles ( ! cont95tal %elf & )9 !         
exclusive economic zone ( ,vietnam4     
7#be7 ,s9ce ,july #bjab1 ,*9ese patrol  
%ips h be5 spott$ ne> ! disput$ ,s5kaku 
7,diaoyutai7 ,isl&s 9 ! ,ea/ ,*9a ,sea4 
7#bf7 ,at ! ,july #bjab ,,asean         
,regional ,=um1 =m] ,secret>y ( ,/ate   
,cl9ton said1 ,we believe ! nations ( ! 
region %\ld "w collaboratively &        
diplomatically to resolve disputes )\t  
co]cion1 )\t intimidation1 )\t ?reats1 &
 )\t ! use ( =ce4  7#bg7 ,9 ,novemb]    
#bjab1 a regulation 0 approv$ by !      
,ha9an ,p's ,congress au?oriz+ ,*9ese   
m>itime police to bo>d1 se>* & ev5 take 
ov] %ips det]m9$ to be illegally ent]+  
,s\? ,*9a ,sea wat]s unilat]ally claim$ 
by ,beij+4  7#bh7 ,at a meet+ ) !       
,japanese ,=eign ,m9i/] on ,janu>y #ah1 
#bjac1 =m] ,secret>y ( ,/ate ,cl9ton    
/at$ t al?\gh ! ,unit$ ,/ates does n    
take a position on ! ultimate sov]eignty
 ( ! 7,s5kaku7 isl&s1 we ackn[l$ge !y   
are "u ! adm9i/ration ( ,japan1 add+ t  
,we oppose any unilat]al actions t w\ld 

seek to und]m9e ,japanese adm9i/ration1 
& we urge all p>ties to take /eps to    
prev5t incid5ts & manage disagreem5ts   
?r\gh peaceful means4  7#bi7 ,on ,augu/ 
#c1 #bjab1 a ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate          
spokesp]son express$ conc]n ov] ,*9a's  
upgrad+ ( ! adm9i/rative level ( ,san%a 
,city & ! e/abli%m5t ( a new milit>y    
g>rison !re1 express$ enc\ragem5t =     
,,asean & ,*9a to make mean+ful progress
 t[>d f9aliz+ a compreh5sive ,code (    
,conduct1 & call$ ^u claimants to       
explore e diplomatic or o!r peaceful    
av5ue = resolution1 includ+ ! use (     
arbitration or o!r int]national legal   
me*anisms z ne$$4  #b4 ,s5se ( ,congress
 ,x is ! s5se ( ,congress t1 9 light ( !
 congressional f9d+ describ$ above1 !   
,secret>y ( ,/ate %\ld--  7#a7 reaffirm 
! /rong support ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates = !   
peaceful resolution ( m>itime t]ritorial
 disputes 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea1 ! ,taiwan 
,/rait1 ! ,ea/ ,*9a ,sea1 & ! ,yell[    
,sea & pl$ge cont9u$ ef=ts to facilitate
 a collaborative1 peaceful process to   

resolve ^! disputes2  7#b7 condemn ! use
 ( ?reats or =ce by naval1 m>itime      
security1 & fi%+ vessels f ,*9a 9 ! ,s\?
 ,*9a ,sea & ! ,ea/ ,*9a ,sea z well z !
 use ( =ce by ,nor? ,korea 9 ! ,yell[   
,sea t w\ld escalate t5sions or result 9
 miscalculations2  7#c7 note t ov]t     
?reats & gun boat diplomacy are n       
con/ructive means = settl+ ^! out/&+    
m>itime disputes2  7#d7 welcome !       
diplomatic ef=ts ( ,association ( ,s\!a/
 ,asian ,nations 7,,asean7 & ! ,unit$   
,/ates allies & p>tn]s 9 ,japan1 !      
,republic ( ,korea1 ,taiwan1 !          
,philipp9es1 & ,india to amiably &      
fairly resolve ^! out/&+ disputes2 &    
7#e7 support ! cont9uation ( op]ations  
by ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,arm$ ,=ces 9 support
 ( fre$om ( navigation rights 9         
int]national wat]s & air space 9 ! ,s\? 
,*9a ,sea1 ! ,ea/ ,*9a ,sea1 ! ,taiwan  
,/rait1 & ! ,yell[ ,sea4  #c4 ,report on
 ! ,code ( ,conduct = ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea  
7a7 ,report ,n lat] ?an #ahj days aft] !
 date ( ! enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 !        

,secret>y ( ,/ate %all submit to !      
,committee on ,=eign ,affairs ( ! ,h\se 
( ,repres5tatives & ! ,committee on     
,=eign ,relations ( ! ,s5ate a report on
 ! ,code ( ,conduct & o!r peaceful      
measures = resolution ( ! t]ritorial    
disputes 9 ! ,s\? ,*9a ,sea4  7b7 ,=m ,!
 report requir$ "u subsection 7a7 %all  
be submitt$ 9 unclassifi$ =m1 b may     
conta9 a classifi$ annex if necess>y4