A resolution 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.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 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. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AUGUST 13, 2020 Mr. CORNYN (for himself and Mr. WARNER) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations RESOLUTION 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. 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 encour- ages 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 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:14 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR680.IS SR680 2 •SRES 680 IS 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 Ac- tual 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 re- garding the intent of the Government of the People’s Re- public 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 De- fense Partner and has taken steps to deepen the bilateral defense relationship, including by elevating India to Stra- tegic 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 aggres- sion 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; VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:41 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR680.IS SR680 3 •SRES 680 IS Whereas the Government of India has taken steps to secure its telecommunications infrastructure from Chinese secu- rity threats; Whereas it mutually benefits the United States and India to strengthen their Comprehensive Global Strategic Partner- ship through increased defense interoperability, intel- ligence 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 Communica- tions, 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 relation- ships both bilaterally, as well as multilaterally through the Quadrilateral Dialogue with Japan and Australia: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) condemns the People’s Republic of China’s 2 use of military force to change the status quo at the 3 Line of Actual Control, as well as its refusal to de- 4 marcate that Line in accordance with past bilateral 5 agreements with India; 6 (2) supports a diplomatic solution that rapidly 7 restores the April 2020 status quo at the Line of 8 Actual Control; 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:41 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR680.IS SR680 4 •SRES 680 IS (3) commends India for taking steps to secure 1 its telecommunications infrastructure from Chinese 2 security threats and encourages multilateral engage- 3 ment in these efforts, including through the Blue 4 Dot Network; 5 (4) commits to deepening defense, intelligence, 6 and economic ties with India in line with fulfilling 7 the full potential of the Comprehensive Global Stra- 8 tegic Partnership; and 9 (5) supports bilateral and multilateral partner- 10 ships, such as the Quadrilateral Dialogue, to pro- 11 mote a rules-based order in the Indo-Pacific. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:41 Aug 13, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR680.IS SR680