That the House of Representatives—
reaffirms the strong support of the United States for the peaceful resolution of maritime territorial disputes in the South China Sea and the East China Sea and pledges continued efforts to facilitate a collaborative, peaceful process to resolve these disputes;
reaffirms the strong support for freedom of navigation and over flight and condemns coercive and threatening actions or the use of force to impede these freedoms in international maritime domains and airspace by military or civilian vessels, to alter the status quo or to destabilize the Asia-Pacific region;
does not recognize the East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) declared by China, which is contrary to freedom of overflight in international airspace, and calls on China to refrain from taking similar provocative actions elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region, including in the South China Sea;
urges the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), all United States allies and partners, and all claimants to amiably and fairly resolve these outstanding disputes, including through the conclusion of a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea;
urges the conclusion of the annex to the non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the United States and China on “rules of behavior for safety of air and maritime encounters” addressing air-to-air encounters in 2015;
supports the continuation of operations by the United States to support freedom of navigation in international waters and air space in the South China Sea and the East China Sea; and
encourages the continuation of efforts by the United States Government to strengthen partnerships in the region to build capacity for maritime domain awareness in support of freedom of navigation, maintenance of peace and stability, and respect for universally recognized principles of international law.