H.R. 1632 — what changed

changed Southeast Asia is the fulcrum of the Indo-Pacific region and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), region, providing both a regional intergovernmental organization, remains the centerpiece of the Indo-Pacific region’s architecture.geographic and maritime link between East and South Asia.

changed A central element of United States strategy for the Indo-Pacific region is strengthening The United States has committed to continuing to deepen longstanding alliances and partnerships and working with and through allies and partners to address common challenges and to enhance a range of Southeast Asian nations, including by promoting our shared capabilities.values, democracy, human rights, and civil society.

changed ASEAN member states are critical United States security partners in preventing violent extremism, protecting Since the freedom and openness end of the maritime domain, engaging Second World War, United States investments in global peacekeeping operations, strengthening alliances and preventing partnerships with Southeast Asian nations have yielded tremendous returns for United States interests, as working with and through these alliances and partnerships have increased the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction.region’s capacity and capability to address common challenges.

changed ASEAN member states are vital to critical United States security partners in preventing violent extremism and protecting the prosperity freedom and openness of the United States economy maritime domain and exports to ASEAN economies support more than 500,000 jobs in preventing the United States.trafficking of weapons of mass destruction.

changed cooperate more closely deepen cooperation with the ASEAN and ASEAN member states in the interest of promoting peace, security, and stability in the Indo-Pacific region;

changed establish and communicate a comprehensive and focused strategy that articulates affirm the role and importance of Southeast Asia to the United States, the value of the United States-ASEAN relationship, ASEAN centrality and ASEAN-led mechanisms in the mutual interests evolving institutional architecture of both parties, and the concrete and material benefits all nations derive from strong United States engagement and leadership in Southeast Asia; Indo-Pacific region; and

changed affirm the importance of ASEAN centrality establish and ASEAN-led mechanisms in the evolving regional architecture of communicate a comprehensive strategy toward the Indo-Pacific region.region that articulates—

changed In general— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary heads of Commerce other Federal departments and the Secretary of Defense, agencies as appropriate, shall develop and submit to the appropriate congressional committees a comprehensive and focused multi-year strategy for engagement with Southeast Asia and ASEAN.

changed An identification A statement of enduring United States interests in Southeast Asia and a description of efforts to bolster the effectiveness of ASEAN as an independent and unified regional leader.ASEAN.

changed An identification of—A description of efforts to—

changed the future of deepen and expand Southeast Asian alliances, partnerships, and multilateral engagements, including efforts to expand broad based and inclusive economic growth, security interoperability ties, security cooperation and interoperability, economic connectivity, and build networks of allies and partners expand opportunities for ASEAN to work with other United States like-minded partners in the Indo-Pacific region; and

changed encourage like-minded partners outside ASEAN that support United States interests in Southeast Asia, such as an ASEAN-centered and rules-based order, including multilateral efforts of the Indo-Pacific region to coordinate engagement engage with ASEAN.

changed A list summary of ongoing and planned initiatives and programs across the whole of the United States Government to strengthen the United States partnership with Southeast Asian countries nations and ASEAN through trade, investment, energy, ASEAN, including to promote broad based and inclusive economic and political diplomacy in Southeast Asia and through development growth, trade, investment, energy and capacity building, including efforts to improve the environment for private sector-led economic development, combat climate change, public-private partnerships, physical and digital infrastructure development, development of the digital economy and technology, and other initiatives relating to education, disaster management, and public health.health and economic and political diplomacy in Southeast Asia.

changed An assessment A summary of ongoing and planned initiatives across the whole of the United States Government to directly assist enhance the capacity of Southeast Asian countries and ASEAN in developing institutional capabilities, including nations with respect to enforcing international law and multilateral sanctions, and initiatives to cooperate with ASEAN as an institution in these areas.

changed An assessment A summary of ongoing and planned efforts initiatives across the whole of the United States Government to promote and engage with Southeast Asian countries on human rights and democracy, to strengthen the rule of law, civil society, and transparent governance, and to protect the integrity of elections and personal data from cyber threats.outside influence.

changed An assessment A summary of ongoing and planned initiatives to promote security cooperation, assistance, cooperation and training initiatives security assistance within Southeast Asian countries, nations, including—

changed maritime security and political maritime domain awareness initiatives for protecting the maritime commons and supporting international law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea; and

changed efforts to combat terrorism, human trafficking, piracy, and illegal fishing, and promote more open, reliable routes for trade.sea lines of communication.