Calling for suspension of construction of artificial land formations on islands, reefs, shoals, and other features of the Spratly Islands and for a peaceful and multilateral resolution to the South China Sea territorial dispute.

condemns the Government of the People's Republic of China's unilateral construction of artificial land formations in the disputed Spratly Islands;

strongly urges all parties to maritime and territorial disputes in the region to respect the status quo, exercise self-restraint in the conduct of activities that would undermine stability or complicate or escalate disputes, refrain from inhabiting or garrisoning presently uninhabited islands, reefs, shoals, and other features, and refrain from unilateral actions that cause permanent physical change to the marine environment in areas pending final delimitation;

urges the Government of the People's Republic of China to clarify the meaning of its “nine dash line” claim and the maritime areas it claims within that space;

further urges the Government of the People's Republic of China to clarify its intentions with respect to establishing “necessary military defense” on reclaimed features and condemns the militarization of disputed features;

supports efforts by parties to maritime and territorial disputes to handle their differences in a constructive manner and pursue their claims through peaceful, diplomatic, and legitimate regional and international arbitration mechanisms;

reaffirms the strong support of the United States for the member states of ASEAN as they seek to develop a code of conduct of parties in the South China Sea with the People’s Republic of China, and urges China to enter into such negotiations in a serious manner;

supports efforts to strengthen regional maritime domain awareness;

supports efforts to strengthen maritime partner capacity, including through the sale and transfer of technology that promotes maritime domain awareness; and

supports the continuation of operations by the United States Armed Forces in support of freedom of navigation rights in international waters and air space in the South China Sea.