Calling for all parties to respect the arbitral tribunal ruling with regard to the South China Sea and to express United States policy on freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and South China Seas.

supports the July 12, 2016, ruling issued by the Tribunal as binding on all parties in the case, and calls on all claimants to pursue peaceful resolution of outstanding maritime claims in the South China Sea consistent with international law;

urges all parties to take action to implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea and take steps towards early conclusion of a meaningful Code of Conduct, which would provide agreed upon rules of the road to reduce tension among claimant states;

opposes any actions in the South China Sea to change the status quo by coercion, force, or the threat of use of force;

calls on the Government of the People’s Republic of China to cease all reclamation and militarization activities in the South China Sea and end provocative actions in the East China Sea, which undermine peace and stability in the region;

reaffirms Article V of the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of the Philippines;

reaffirms Article V of the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan;

urges the Secretary of State to utilize all diplomatic channels to communicate worldwide unwavering United States support for freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea; and

urges the Secretary of Defense to routinely enforce freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and South China Seas, which is critical to United States national security interests and peace and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.