,,iii #aafth ,,congress #ast ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #djf ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,november #e1 #bjai,mr4 ,menendez 7for himself1 ,mr4 ,risch1 ,mr4 ,markey1 and ,mr4 ,gardner7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,relations ,,resolution ,recognizing that for #ej years1 the ,association of ,south ,east ,asian ,nations 7,,asean7 and its ten members1 ,brunei1 ,cambodia1 ,indonesia1 ,laos1 ,malaysia1 ,myanmar1 the ,philippines1 ,singapore1 ,thailand1 and ,vietnam1 have worked with the ,united ,states toward stability1 prosperity1 and peace in ,southeast ,asia1 and expressing the sense of the ,senate that the ,united ,states will continue to remain a strong1 reliable1 and active partner in the ,,asean region4 ,whereas the #aj members of the ,association of ,south ,east ,asian ,nations 7,,asean7 represent a variety of different cultures and beliefs as well as vibrant economies giving rise to a flourishing middle class2 ,whereas an estimated #gj1jjj1jjj ,united ,states citizens identify with an ethnicity represented in ,,asean1 including #d1jjj1jjj ,filipinos and #a1ijj1jjj ,vietnamese2 ,whereas the ,united ,states and ,,asean have been cooperating to advance our mutual interests for #dj years1 having first established dialogue relations on ,september #aj1 #aigg1 with the issuing of the #aigg ,joint ,communique of the ,first ,,asean-,united ,states ,dialogue and the ,united ,states acceding to the ,treaty of ,amity and ,cooperation in ,southeast ,asia 7,,tac7 at the ,,asean ,post ,ministerial ,conference ,session with the ,united ,states in ,thailand on ,july #bb1 #bjji2 ,whereas the ,united ,states was the first non-,,asean country to appoint an ambassador to ,,asean on ,april #bi1 #bjjh1 and the first non-member to establish a permanent mission to ,,asean in #bjaj2 ,whereas cooperation between the ,united ,states ,government and the governments and people of the ,,asean nations can help realize their common goals of a peaceful1 prosperous1 and open ,indo-,pacific rooted in a rule-based order that promotes security1 opportunity1 and dignity to all peoples2 ,whereas1 in #bjai1 ,,asean's #aj members represent the sixth largest economy in the world and constitute the ,united ,states fourth-largest export market1 with total exports to ,,asean countries reaching #aaf1bjj1jjj1jjj1 representing the number one destination for ,united ,states investment in the ,indo-,pacific with #cbi1jjj1jjj1jjj in cumulative foreign direct investment2 ,whereas ,,asean nations host critical global sea lanes located at the heart of the world's most dynamic economic regions1 with #e1cjj1jjj1jjj1jjj of global trade and more than half of the world's total shipped tonnage transiting through ,,asean waters each year2 ,whereas the ultimate goal of the ,,asean ,economic ,community is to create one of the world's largest single market economies and facilitate the free movement of goods1 services1 and professionals2 ,whereas the ,united ,states-,,asean ,single ,window custom facilitation system expedites intra-,,asean trade and enhances the ability of ,united ,states businesses to operate in the region2 ,whereas the ,united ,states-,,asean ,business ,alliance for ,competitive1 ,small1 and ,medium ,sized ,enterprises 7,s,m,es7 has trained more than #d1fjj small-to-medium size enterprises1 with nearly half of the participants being women entrepreneurs2 ,whereas the ,lower ,mekong ,initiative1 established on ,july #bc1 #bjji1 promotes sustainable economic development in mainland ,southeast ,asia and fosters regional cooperation1 integration1 and capacity building2 ,whereas the ,united ,states remains committed to working with ,,asean to improve the protection of human rights and fundamental dignity of the people of ,,asean countries1 a key ingredient to maintaining stability1 promoting economic growth1 and advancing good governance2 ,whereas the ,united ,states opposes all claims in the maritime domain that infringe on the rights1 freedoms1 and lawful use of the sea that belongs to all nations1 and has a national interest in freedom of navigation and overflight1 open access to ,asia's maritime commons1 and respect for international law in the ,south ,china ,sea2 ,whereas the ,united ,states does not take sides on the competing territorial disputes1 but nevertheless believes claimants should pursue territorial claims without resort to coercion1 and through collaborative diplomacy1 including international arbitration1 and in accordance with international law and institutions2 ,whereas the ,united ,states supports the ,philippines' decision to use arbitration under the ,united ,nations ,convention on the ,law of the ,sea 7,,unclos71 done at ,montego ,bay ,december #aj1 #aihb1 to peacefully and lawfully address competing territorial claims2 ,whereas the ,united ,states supports efforts by ,,asean and the ,people's ,republic of ,china to develop an effective ,code of ,conduct 7,,coc71 opposes efforts by any nation to use the ,,coc as a vehicle to limit presence in or lawful use of the ,south ,china ,sea1 encourages claimants not to undertake new or unilateral attempts to change the status quo since the signing of the #bjjb ,declaration of ,conduct1 including reclamation activities or administrative measures or controls in disputed areas in the ,south ,china ,sea1 and encourages ,,asean countries to adopt a unified position in negotiating the ,,coc2 ,whereas the ,,asean-,united ,states ,maritime ,exercise 7,,auxm71 which ran from ,september #b1 #bjai1 until ,september #f1 #bjai1 built greater maritime security on the strength of ,,asean1 the strength of our navy-to-navy bonds1 and the strength of our shared belief in a free and open ,indo-,pacific2 and ,whereas changes in climatic conditions in the ,,asean region over the past four decades have resulted in major loss and damage1 with a disproportionate impact on developing countries1 and the ,united ,states will pursue initiatives that are consistent with sustainable development1 including the achievement of food security and poverty alleviation1 improvement of conservation and sustainable management of forests1 fish stocks1 and oceanic resources1 resilience to extreme weather events and climate-driven disasters1 and provision of sustainable livelihood for local communities throughout the ,,asean region3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 supports and affirms the full implementation of provisions of the ,asia ,reassurance ,initiative ,act 7,public ,law #aae-dji7 with regard to elevating the ,united ,states relationship with ,,asean2 7#b7 reaffirms the importance of ,united ,states-,,asean economic engagement1 including the elimination of barriers to cross-border commerce1 and supports the ,,asean ,economic ,community's goals1 including strong1 inclusive1 and sustainable growth and cooperation with the ,united ,states that focuses on innovation and capacity building efforts in technology1 education1 disaster management1 food security1 human rights1 and trade facilitation1 including for ,,asean's poorest countries2 7#c7 urges ,,asean to continue its efforts to foster greater integration and unity within the ,,asean community1 as well as to foster greater integration and unity with non-,,asean economic1 political1 and security partners1 including ,japan1 the ,republic of ,korea1 ,australia1 the ,european ,union1 ,taiwan1 and ,india2 7#d7 recognizes the value of strategic economic initiatives like the ,united ,states-,,asean ,connect1 which demonstrates a commitment to ,,asean and the ,,aec and builds upon economic relationships in the region2 7#e7 supports ,,asean nations in addressing maritime and territorial disputes in a constructive manner and in pursuing claims through peaceful1 diplomatic1 and legitimate regional and international arbitration mechanisms1 consistent with international law1 including through the adoption of a code of conduct in the ,south ,china ,sea to further promote peace and stability in the region2 7#f7 urges all parties to maritime and territorial disputes in the ,asia-,pacific region1 including the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china-- 7,a7 to exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would undermine stability or complicate or escalate disputes through the use of coercion1 intimidation1 or military force2 7,b7 to refrain from new efforts to militarize uninhabited islands1 reefs1 shoals1 and other features1 including the construction of new garrisons and facilities and the relocation of additional military personnel1 material1 or equipment2 7,c7 to oppose actions by any country to prevent any other country from exercising its sovereign rights to the resources of the exclusive economic zone 7,,eez7 and continental shelf by seeking to enforce claims to those areas in the ,south ,china ,sea that have no support in international law2 and 7,d7 to oppose unilateral declarations of administrative and military districts in contested areas in the ,south ,china ,sea2 7#g7 urges parties to refrain from unilateral actions that cause permanent physical damage to the marine environment1 and supports the efforts of the ,national ,oceanic and ,atmospheric ,administration and ,,asean to implement guidelines to address the illegal1 unreported1 and unregulated fishing in the region2 7#h7 supports efforts by ,united ,states partners and allies in ,,asean-- 7,a7 to enhance maritime capability and maritime domain awareness2 7,b7 to protect unhindered access to and use of international waterways in the ,asia-,pacific region that are critical to ensuring the security and free flow of commerce2 7,c7 to counter piracy2 7,d7 to disrupt illicit maritime trafficking activates such as the trafficking of persons1 goods1 and drugs2 and 7,e7 to enhance the maritime capabilities of countries or regional organizations to respond to emerging threats to maritime security in the ,asia-,pacific region2 7#i7 urges ,,asean member states to develop a common approach to reaffirm the decision of the ,permanent ,court of ,arbitration in ,the ,hague's ruling with respect to the case between the ,republic of the ,philippines and the ,people's ,republic of ,china2 7#aj7 reaffirms the commitment of the ,united ,states to continue joint efforts with ,,asean to halt human smuggling and trafficking in persons1 and urges ,,asean to make increased efforts to create and strengthen regional mechanisms to provide assistance and support to refugees and migrants2 7#aa7 supports the ,lower ,mekong ,initiative1 which has made significant progress in promoting sustainable economic development in mainland ,southeast ,asia and fostering integrated sub-regional cooperation and capacity building2 7#ab7 urges ,,asean to build capacity for the promotion and protection of human rights by ,,asean member states1 and the implementation of related priorities1 programs1 and activities2 7#ac7 urges ,,asean governments to engage directly with leaders of civil society and human rights1 including advocates of religious freedom1 victims of human rights abuses1 and environmental groups1 and to prioritize the construction of forums that give these stakeholders a voice to instruct public policy2 7#ad7 encourages the ,president of the ,united ,states to communicate to ,,asean leaders the importance of protecting human rights1 including ending extrajudicial killings1 releasing political prisoners1 ceasing politically motivated prosecutions1 strengthening civil society1 safeguarding freedom of the press1 freedom of assembly1 and the free flow of information and ideas1 and promoting the rule of law and open and transparent government2 7#ae7 supports efforts by organizations in ,,asean addressing corruption in the public and private sectors1 enhancing anti-bribery compliance1 enforcing bribery criminalization in the private sector1 and building beneficial ownership transparency through the ,,asean-,,usaid ,,prospect project partnered with the ,south ,east ,asia ,parties ,against ,corruption 7,,sea-,,pac72 7#af7 supports the ,young ,southeast ,asian ,leaders ,initiative program as an example of people-to-people partnership building that provides skills1 networks1 and leadership capabilities to a new generation of people who will create and fill jobs1 foster cross-border cooperation and partnerships1 and rise to solve the regional and global challenges of the future2 and 7#ag7 urges ,,asean governments to fully uphold and implement all ,united ,nations ,security ,council resolutions and international agreements with respect to ,north ,korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs4