,,iv #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,h4 ,,con4 ,,res4 #ga ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,january #cj1 #bjbf,mr4 ,bacon submitted the following concurrent resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,foreign ,affairs ,,concurrent ,,resolution ,expressing unwavering support for the ,united ,states-,japan alliance in response to political1 economic1 and military pressure by the ,people's ,republic of ,china against ,japan4 ,whereas1 since #aiea1 the ,united ,states-,japan alliance has served as the cornerstone of peace1 security1 and prosperity in the ,indo-,pacific2 ,whereas1 on ,october #d1 #bjbe1 ,japan elected its first female prime minister1 ,sanae ,takaichi2 ,whereas1 on ,november #b1 #bjbe1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china's ,foreign ,ministry harshly criticized a meeting between ,prime ,minister ,takaichi and a senior ,taiwan official at the ,asia-,pacific ,economic ,cooperation 7,,apec7 ,economic ,leaders' ,meeting in ,gyeongju1 ,south ,korea1 despite the fact that such meetings regularly occur at ,,apec1 where ,taiwan has been an active member since #aiia2 ,whereas1 on ,november #g1 #bjbe1 in response to a question from a member of the ,japanese parliament about a hypothetical ,chinese blockade of the ,taiwan ,strait involving ,united ,states forces1 ,prime ,minister ,takaichi responded that if battleships are used and a naval blockade involves the use of force1 ,i believe that would1 by any measure1 constitute a survival-threatening situation for ,japan1 a legal term under ,japanese law allowing ,tokyo to exercise its right to collective self-defense with the ,united ,states2 ,whereas ,prime ,minister ,takaichi further clarified that the ,japanese government would make its judgment by synthesizing all information based on the specific circumstances of the actual situation2 ,whereas ,prime ,minister ,takaichi's remarks are in line with previous remarks from senior ,japanese leaders1 including then-,defense ,minister ,nobuo ,kishi's statement in #bjba that the peace and stability of ,taiwan are directly connected to ,japan1 and then-,deputy ,prime ,minister ,taro ,aso's remarks that if a major problem took place in ,taiwan1 it would not be too much to say that it could relate to a survival-threatening situation 7for ,japan72 ,whereas1 on ,november #g1 #bjbe1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china's ,consul ,general in ,osaka criticized ,prime ,minister ,takaichi's remarks to parliament in a post on ,x1 saying1 ,we have no choice but to cut off that dirty neck that has been lunged at us without hesitation4 ,are you ready82 ,whereas1 since ,november #g1 #bjbe1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china has effectively suspended or blocked many ,japanese cultural performances inside ,china1 including films and concerts1 with venues reportedly told that concerts featuring ,japanese musicians would be cancelled for the rest of #bjbe2 ,whereas1 on ,november #ad1 #bjbe1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china announced travel advisories urging its citizens to avoid travel to or study in ,japan1 leading airlines to offer refunds to ,chinese travelers and cancel flights2 ,whereas1 on ,november #af1 #bjbe1 ,chinese coast guard vessels sailed through waters around the ,senkaku ,islands1 which are administered by ,japan1 prompting ,japan to deploy its own coast guard vessels in response2 ,whereas1 on ,november #ah1 #bjbe1 and ,december #a1 #bjbe1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china sent letters to the ,united ,nations criticizing ,prime ,minister ,takaichi's remarks2 ,whereas1 on ,november #ai1 #bjbe1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china announced it would reimpose a #bjbc ban on seafood imports from ,japan and suspended consultations to resume ,japanese beef exports to ,china2 ,whereas1 on ,november #bj1 #bjbe1 the ,department of ,state ,deputy ,spokesperson stated1 ,our commitment to the ,u4,s4-,japan ,alliance and to ,japan's defense1 including the ,japan-administered ,senkakus1 is unwavering4 ,the ,u4,s4-,japan ,alliance remains the cornerstone of peace and security in the ,indo-,pacific4444 ,we firmly oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo1 including through force or coercion1 in the ,taiwan ,strait1 ,east ,china ,sea1 or ,south ,china ,sea42 ,whereas1 on ,december #b1 #bjbe1 the ,japanese ,coast ,guard intercepted and drove away #b ,chinese coast guard vessels that approached a ,japanese fishing boat near the ,senkaku ,islands2 ,whereas1 on ,december #f1 #bjbe1 ,people's ,liberation ,army ,navy's ,liaoning aircraft carrier conducted exercises near the ,japanese island of ,okinawa and #b ,chinese ,j-#ae warplanes locked radar on #b ,japanese ,f-#ae military aircraft on separate occasions in international waters2 ,whereas1 on ,december #i1 #bjbe1 #b ,russian ,tu-#ie nuclear-capable strategic bombers joined #b ,chinese ,h-#f bombers and #d ,j-#af fighters on a joint patrol in international waters between ,japan's ,okinawa and ,miyako ,islands2 ,whereas1 on ,december #i1 #bjbe1 a spokesperson for the ,department of ,state stated1 ,china's actions are not conducive to regional peace and stability4 ,the ,u4,s4-,japan ,alliance is stronger and more united than ever4 ,our commitment to our ally ,japan is unwavering1 and we are in close contact on this and other issues2 ,whereas1 on ,december #aa1 #bjbe1 ,united ,states strategic bombers joined ,japanese fighters in a joint military exercise near ,japan's western airspace1 with the ,japanese ,joint ,staff saying that the exercises reaffirmed the strong resolve to prevent unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force and the readiness between the ,self-,defense ,force and the ,u4,s4 forces2 and ,whereas1 on ,december #ad1 #bjbe1 the ,people's ,republic of ,china imposed sanctions on ,shigeru ,iwasaki1 a former chief of staff of ,japan's ,self-,defense ,forces ,joint ,staff and adviser to ,taiwan's cabinet1 for alleged collusion with ,taiwan independence separatist forces3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,congress-- 7#a7 condemns the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china's use of economic1 military1 and diplomatic coercion and aggression against ,japan1 a ,united ,states defense treaty ally2 7#b7 commends the ,government of ,japan's opposition to the efforts of the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china to-- 7,a7 undermine regional stability2 and 7,b7 unilaterally change the status quo in the ,taiwan ,strait by force or coercion2 7#c7 recognizes ,japan's commitments to peace and security and its continuing role as a key ally in maintaining a free and open ,indo-,pacific2 7#d7 applauds the ,government of ,japan's efforts to increase its own defense spending to invest in capabilities to enhance deterrence across the region2 7#e7 applauds the ,government of ,japan's efforts to diffuse tensions with the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china despite continuous unilateral provocations2 7#f7 reaffirms the ,united ,states unwavering commitment to article ,v of the ,united ,states-,japan ,treaty of ,mutual ,cooperation and ,security1 and that the ,senkaku ,islands fall within article ,v's scope2 and 7#g7 stands with the ,government of ,japan and the ,japanese people against the ,government of the ,people's ,republic of ,china's attempts to harass and escalate tensions with ,japan4