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[Pages S5410-S5411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SUBMITTED RESOLUTIONS
______
SENATE RESOLUTION 680--CONDEMNING THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA'S USE
OF MILITARY AGGRESSION TO CHANGE THE STATUS QUO AT THE LINE OF ACTUAL
CONTROL BETWEEN INDIA AND CHINA
Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. Warner) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:
S. Res. 680
Whereas, since a truce ended the 1962 war between India and
the People's Republic of China, the countries have been
divided by a Line of Actual Control;
Whereas the United States officially recognizes the McMahon
Line, the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, and encourages a
diplomatic solution to remaining contested areas of the
border between India and China;
Whereas, due to the disputed nature of the Line of Actual
Control, minor standoffs between India and the People's
Republic of China have occasionally happened, but prior to
June 15, 2020, no military fatalities had occurred since
1975;
Whereas, in the months leading up to June 15, 2020, the
People's Republic of China increased troop deployments, built
new infrastructure in contested areas, and harassed Indian
patrols along multiple sectors of the Line of Actual Control,
particularly around the Depsang Plains, Galwan Valley, Hot
Springs, and Pangong Lake;
Whereas the events of June 15, 2020, which resulted in the
death of 20 Indian soldiers, raises serious concerns
regarding the intent of the Government of the People's
Republic of China and its military forces;
Whereas this act by the People's Republic of China military
occurred during bilateral diplomatic negotiations between the
Governments of the People's Republic of China and India, who
were attempting to deescalate tensions at the Line of Actual
Control;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China's
expanded territorial claims in Bhutan's eastern sector is a
transparent attempt at expanding its illegitimate claims over
the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh;
Whereas the United States designated India as a Major
Defense Partner and has taken steps to deepen the bilateral
defense relationship, including by elevating India to
Strategic Trade Authorization Tier 1 Status and conducting
annual joint military exercises;
Whereas the United States Government remains committed to a
free and open Indo-Pacific and views China's aggression at
the Line of Actual Control, in the Indian Ocean, and in the
Western Pacific as a threat to the stability and security of
the international community;
Whereas the Government of India has taken steps to secure
its telecommunications infrastructure from Chinese security
threats;
Whereas it mutually benefits the United States and India to
strengthen their Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership
through increased defense interoperability, intelligence
sharing, access to military installations, and trade;
Whereas the United States and India have signed three
foundational military agreements, the General Security of
Military Information Agreement, the Logistics Exchange
Memorandum of Understanding, and the Communications,
Compatibility, and Security Agreement, and are working to
sign the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement; and
Whereas it is in the mutual interest of the United States
and India to expand their defense and intelligence
relationships both bilaterally, as well as multilaterally
through the Quadrilateral Dialogue with Japan and Australia:
Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) condemns the People's Republic of China's use of
military force to change the status quo at the Line of Actual
Control, as well as its refusal to demarcate that Line in
accordance with past bilateral agreements with India;
(2) supports a diplomatic solution that rapidly restores
the April 2020 status quo at the Line of Actual Control;
(3) commends India for taking steps to secure its
telecommunications infrastructure
[[Page S5411]]
from Chinese security threats and encourages multilateral
engagement in these efforts, including through the Blue Dot
Network;
(4) commits to deepening defense, intelligence, and
economic ties with India in line with fulfilling the full
potential of the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership;
and
(5) supports bilateral and multilateral partnerships, such
as the Quadrilateral Dialogue, to promote a rules-based order
in the Indo-Pacific.
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