Public Law 115–409: To develop a long-term strategic vision and a comprehensive, multifaceted, and principled United States policy for the Indo-Pacific region, and for other purposes.

to confront common challenges;

to improve information sharing;

to increase defense investment and trade;

to ensure interoperability; and

to strengthen shared capabilities;

share mutual respect for the rule of law;

agree with fair and reciprocal trade; and

understand the importance of civil society, the rule of law, the free and reliable flow of information, and transparent governance;

to freedom of navigation under international law;

to promote peaceful resolutions of maritime and territorial disputes; and

to expand security and defense cooperation with allies and partners, as appropriate;

to pursue high-quality and transparent infrastructure projects;

to maintain unimpeded commerce, open sea lines or air ways, and communication; and

to seek the peaceful resolution of disputes; and

appropriate committees of Congress

the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate;

the Committee on Finance of the Senate;

the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives;

the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives; and

the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives.

to advance United States foreign policy interests and objectives in the Indo-Pacific region in recognition of the value of diplomatic initiatives and programs in the furtherance of United States strategy;

to improve the defense capacity and resiliency of partner nations to resist coercion and deter and defend against security threats, including through foreign military financing and international military education and training programs;

to conduct regular bilateral and multilateral engagements, particularly with the United States’ most highly-capable allies and partners, to meet strategic challenges, including—

to build new counterterrorism partnership programs in Southeast Asia to combat the growing presence of ISIS and other terrorist organizations that pose a significant threat to the United States, its allies, and its citizens’ interests abroad;

to help partner countries strengthen their democratic systems, with a focus on good governance;

to ensure that the regulatory environments for trade, infrastructure, and investment in partner countries are transparent, open, and free of corruption;

to encourage responsible natural resource management in partner countries, which is closely associated with economic growth; and

to increase maritime domain awareness programs in South Asia and Southeast Asia—

None of the amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (b) may be made available for counternarcotics assistance for the Philippine National Police unless the Secretary of State determines and reports to the appropriate committees of Congress that the Government of the Philippines has adopted and is implementing a counternarcotics strategy that is consistent with international human rights standards, including investigating and prosecuting individuals who are credibly alleged to have ordered, committed, or covered up extrajudicial killings and other gross violations of human rights in the conduct of counternarcotics operations.

The limitation under paragraph (1) shall not apply to funds made available—

is committed to the Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan, done at Washington, January 19, 1960, and all related and subsequent bilateral security agreements and arrangements concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act;

recognizes the vital role of the alliance between the United States and Japan in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; and132 STAT. 5393

calls for the strengthening and broadening of diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United States and Japan.

is committed to the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of Korea, done at Washington October 1, 1953, and all related and subsequent bilateral security agreements and arrangements concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act;

recognizes the vital role of the alliance between the United States and South Korea in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; and

calls for the strengthening and broadening of diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United States and the Republic of Korea.

is committed to the Security Treaty Between Australia and the United States of America, done at San Francisco September 1, 1951, and all related and subsequent bilateral security agreements and arrangements concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act;

recognizes the vital role of the alliance between the United States and Australia in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region; and

calls for the strengthening and broadening of diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United States and Australia.

the Agreement Respecting Military Assistance Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Thailand, done at Bangkok October 17, 1950;

the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, done at Manila September 8, 1954; and

all related and subsequent bilateral security agreements and arrangements concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act, including the Joint Vision Statement for the Thai-United States Defense Alliance, issued in Bangkok November 15, 2012.

expresses grave concerns with Chinese actions that seek—

encourages China to play a constructive role in world affairs by demonstrating consistent respect for the rule of law and international norms;

seeks to build a positive, cooperative, and comprehensive relationship with China—

is committed to working with China on shared regional and global challenges, especially—

welcome a decision by China to change course and pursue a responsible results-oriented relationship with the United States and engagement on global issues;

encourage China to play a constructive role in the Indo-Pacific region and globally; and

continue to call out Chinese actions that undermine the rules-based international system.

recognizes the vital role of the strategic partnership between the United States and India in promoting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region;

calls for the strengthening and broadening of diplomatic, economic, and security ties between the United States and India; and

is committed to—

Section 1292(a)(1)(A) of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 (Public Law 114–328; 130 Stat. 2559; 22 U.S.C. 2751 note) requires the recognition of India as a major defense partner.

The designation of India as a major defense partner, which is unique to India—132 STAT. 5395

support and reaffirm the elevation of the United States-Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to in this section as “ASEAN”) relationship to a strategic partnership;

recommit to ASEAN centrality by helping build a strong, stable, politically cohesive, economically integrated, and socially responsible community of nations that has common rules, norms, procedures, and standards which are consistent with international law and the principles of a rules-based Indo-Pacific community;

urge ASEAN to continue its efforts to foster greater integration among its members;

recognize the value of—

support efforts by the nations comprising ASEAN—

support efforts by United States partners and allies in ASEAN—

urge ASEAN member states to develop a common approach to reaffirm the decision of the Permanent Court of Arbitration’s ruling with respect to the case between the Republic of the Philippines and the People’s Republic of China.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary of State, in consultation with other Federal agencies, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees on a strategic framework to administer programs, projects, and activities of the United States to support diplomatic and economic engagement between the United States and ASEAN member countries for the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act.

The report required under paragraph (1) shall address the following elements of United States strategy:

a rules-based order;132 STAT. 5397

respect for international law; and

a free and open Indo-Pacific; and

the United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership, done in Washington November 9, 2010;

the Joint Statement on Comprehensive Defense Cooperation, done in Washington October 26, 2015; and

all related and subsequent bilateral and security agreements and arrangements between the United States and Indonesia concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act.

the United States-Malaysia Comprehensive Partnership, done at Putrajaya April 27, 2014;

the Joint Statement for Enhancing the Comprehensive Partnership between the United States of America and Malaysia, done in Washington September 13, 2017; and

all related and subsequent bilateral and security agreements and arrangements between the United States and Malaysia concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act.

the Strategic Framework Agreement Between the United States of America and the Republic of Singapore for a Closer Cooperation Partnership in Defense and Security, done at Washington July 12, 2005;

the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, done at Arlington, Virginia December 7, 2015; and

all related and subsequent bilateral and security agreements and arrangements between the United States and Singapore concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act.

the United States-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership, done at Washington December 16, 2013;

the United StatesVietnam Joint Vision Statement on Defense Relations, done at Hanoi on June 1, 2015;

the United StatesVietnam Joint Vision Statement, done at Washington May 31, 2017; and

all related and subsequent bilateral and security agreements and arrangements between the United States and Vietnam concluded on or before the date of the enactment of this Act.

to support the close economic, political, and security relationship between Taiwan and the United States;

to faithfully enforce all existing United States Government commitments to Taiwan, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (Public Law 96–8), the 3 joint communiques, and the Six Assurances agreed to by President Ronald Reagan in July 1982; and

to counter efforts to change the status quo and to support peaceful resolution acceptable to both sides of the Taiwan Strait.

The Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has flagrantly defied the international community by illicitly developing its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1718 (2006), 1874 (2009), 2087 (2013), 2094 (2013), 2270 (2016), 2321 (2016), 2371 (2017), 2375 (2017), and 2397 (2017).

The Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea engages in gross human rights abuses against its own people and citizens of other countries, including the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan.

The United States is committed to pursuing a peaceful denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea through a policy of maximum pressure and engagement, in close concert with its partners.

It is the policy of the United States to continue to impose sanctions with respect to activities of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, persons acting for or on behalf of such government, or other persons in accordance with Executive Order No. 13551 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking property of certain persons with respect to North Korea), Executive Order No. 13687 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to imposing additional sanctions), Executive Order No. 13694 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking the property of certain persons engaging in significant malicious cyberenabled activities), Executive Order No. 13722 (50 U.S.C. 1701 note; relating to blocking the property of the Government of North Korea and the Workers’ Party of Korea, and prohibiting certain transactions with respect to North Korea), and Executive Order No. 13810 (82 Fed. Reg. 44705; 132 STAT. 5399 relating to imposing additional sanctions with respect to North Korea), as such Executive orders are in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, until the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea is no longer engaged in the illicit activities described in such Executive orders, including actions in violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions referred to in subsection (a)(1).

Not later than 30 days after terminating any sanction with respect to the activities of the Government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, a person acting for or on behalf of such government, or any other person provided for in an Executive order listed in subsection (a), the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees justifying the termination of the sanction and explaining the relationship between such termination and the cessation of any illicit activity that violates any of the United Nations Security Council resolutions referred to in subsection (a)(1) by such Government or person.

Termination date.

The reporting requirement under this paragraph shall terminate on the date that is 5 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.

Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to limit the authority of the President pursuant to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.).

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter for the following 5 years, the Secretary of State, or a designee of the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall submit a report to the appropriate congressional committees that describes actions taken by the United States to address the threats posed by, and the capabilities of, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Each report required under paragraph (1) shall include—

(A)

(B)

(C)

Each report required under this subsection shall be submitted in unclassified form, but may include a classified annex.

representatives of the United States shall use the voice and vote of the United States in all international organizations, as appropriate, to advocate for the expulsion of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea from such organizations, until such time as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea meets its commitments under the United Nations Security Council resolutions referred to in subsection (a)(1); and

the Secretary of State should work to induce countries to meet their commitments under the United Nations Security Council resolutions referred to in subsection (a)(1), including 132 STAT. 5401 by considering appropriate adjustments to the diplomatic posture and foreign assistance of the United States with governments that the Secretary has determined are noncooperative with respect to implementing the United Nations Security Council resolutions referred to in subsection (a)(1).

support strong United States engagement with the nations of the South Pacific, including Fiji, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu;

deepen its cooperation with the nations of the South Pacific in areas of mutual interest, including—

continue to provide assistance to the Pacific Islands, as appropriate, to support the rule of law, good governance, and economic development.

enhance the strategic posture of the United States in the Western Pacific;

reinforce United States regional commitment;

preempt potential adversaries from establishing positional advantage; and

further self-governance, economic development, and self-sufficiency of the Freely Associated States.

to conduct, as part of its global Freedom of Navigation Program, regular freedom of navigation, and overflight operations in the Indo-Pacific region, in accordance with applicable international law; and

to promote genuine multilateral negotiations to peacefully resolve maritime disputes in the South China Sea, in accordance with applicable international law.

The term “” means—

The term “” means the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria.

the current number of ISIS-linked, al-Qaeda-linked, and other violent extremist group-affiliated fighters in Southeast Asia;

an estimate of the number of ISIS-linked, al-Qaeda-linked, and other violent extremist group-affiliated fighters expected to return to Southeast Asia from fighting in the Middle East;

an analysis of the amounts and sources of ISIS-linked, al Qaeda-linked, and other various extremist group affiliated-fighters in Southeast Asia;

the current resources available to combat the threat of ISIS-linked, al-Qaeda-linked, and other violent extremist group-affiliated fighters in Southeast Asia, and the additional resources required to combat such threat;

a detailed assessment of the capabilities of ISIS-linked, al-Qaeda-linked, and other violent extremist group-affiliated fighters to operate effectively in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia;132 STAT. 5403

a description of the capabilities and resources of governments in Southeast Asia to counter violent extremist groups; and

a list of additional United States resources and capabilities that the Department of Defense and the Department of State recommend providing to governments in Southeast Asia to combat violent extremist groups.

to effectively respond to cybersecurity threats, including state-sponsored threats;

to share best practices to combat such threats;

to strengthen resilience against cyberattacks, misinformation, and propaganda; and

to strengthen the resilience of critical infrastructure.

recognizes that the spread of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction, and their means of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and security;

seeks to peacefully address the unique challenge posed to regional and global stability by the illicit use, and the proliferation to and from North Korea, of sensitive nuclear and missile technologies, and other weapons of mass destruction;

notes efforts by China and Russia—

recognizes the legitimate pursuit by many countries in the Indo-Pacific region of nuclear energy for a variety of peaceful applications.

According to the United States Chamber of Commerce, by 2030—

According to the Asian Development Bank—

Free trade agreements between the United States and 3 nations in the Indo-Pacific region (Australia, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea) have entered into force.

The member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (referred to in this section as “ASEAN”), as a group—

The economy comprised of ASEAN member states grew by 66 percent between 2006 and 2015, and the total value of bilateral trade between the United States and ASEAN member states has increased by 78 percent since 2004.

In 2015, the trade surplus of goods sold by companies in ASEAN member states to consumers in the United States was $77,000,000,000, while the United States 2015 trade surplus of services provided to consumers in ASEAN member states was $8,000,000,000.

According to US-ASEAN Business Council, goods and services exported from the United States to ASEAN member states support 550,000 jobs in the United States.

According to the Business Roundtable—

According to the United States National Security Strategy—

comply with trade obligations and respect, promote, and strictly adhere to the rule of law; and

increase United States employment and expand the economy;

describes the efforts of the United States Government to combat intellectual property violations and commercial cyber-enabled theft in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly the People’s Republic of China; and132 STAT. 5406

includes a country-by-country assessment of priority areas for United States engagement and capacity building assistance.

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter for the following 5 years, the President shall establish a comprehensive, integrated, multiyear strategy to encourage the efforts of Indo-Pacific countries to implement national power strategies and cooperation with United States energy companies and the Department of Energy national laboratories to develop an appropriate mix of power solutions to provide access to sufficient, reliable, and affordable power in order to reduce poverty, drive economic growth and job creation, and to increase energy security in the Indo-Pacific region.

There are authorized to be appropriated $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023 to carry out paragraph (1).

assisting in the development of programs that focus on forecasting environmental challenges and resilience;

assisting with transnational cooperation on sustainable uses of forest and water resources with the goal of preserving the biodiversity of the Mekong Basin and access to safe drinking water;

assisting with education enrollment and broadband internet connectivity, particularly English training and connectivity in rural communities; and

improving global health in the Lower Mekong countries, including—

a list and evaluation of Lower Mekong Initiative activities since its inception in 2009;

a strategy for any increased regional engagement and measures of success for the activities described in paragraph (1); and

an accounting of funds used to execute Lower Mekong Initiative activities.

establishing legal frameworks to give women equal rights to own, register, use, profit from, and inherit land and property;

improving legal literacy to enable women to exercise the rights described in subparagraph (A); and

increasing the capacity of law enforcement and community leaders to enforce such rights;

to realize their rights;

to determine their life outcomes;

to assume leadership roles; and

to influence decision-making in their households, communities, and societies; and

Burma (Myanmar), which has been identified by Freedom House as “Partly Free”, and the Department of State has declared that the violence against the Rohingya constitutes ethnic cleansing;

the Philippines, which has been identified by Freedom House as “Partly Free”, and where there are continued disturbing reports of extra-judicial killings; and

China, where forced disappearances, extralegal detentions, invasive and omnipresent surveillance, and lack of due process in judicial proceedings remain troublesome.

will “support, with our words and actions, those who live under oppressive regimes and who seek freedom, individual dignity, and the rule of law”;

“may use diplomacy, sanctions, and other tools to isolate states and leaders who threaten our interests and whose actions run contrary to our values”; and

“will support efforts to advance women’s equality, protect the rights of women and girls, and promote women and youth empowerment programs”.

by continuing to advocate for freedom of the press in the Indo-Pacific region; and

by engaging with the press corps at every appropriate opportunity; and

an assessment of the types of United States Government resources available to support increased cooperation; and

an assessment to identify entities within ASEAN that the United States could potentially support or partner with to promote human rights, democracy, and good governance in Southeast Asia.

violates human rights or religious freedoms; or

engages in censorship activities.

There is authorized to be appropriated $210,000,000, for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023, to promote democracy, strengthen civil society, human rights, rule of law, transparency, and accountability in the Indo-Pacific 132 STAT. 5410 region, including for universities, civil society, and multilateral institutions that are focusing on education awareness, training, and capacity building.

Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made available for United States Government efforts, led by the Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, to promote democracy, the rule of law, and human rights in the People’s Republic of China.

Amounts appropriated pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be made available for nongovernmental organizations to support activities preserving cultural traditions and promoting sustainable development, education, and environmental conservation in Tibetan communities in the Tibet Autonomous Region and in other Tibetan communities in China, India, and Nepal.

human rights defenders

a list and evaluation of the Human Rights Defenders Fund activities since its inception;

a strategy for any increased regional engagement and measures of success for the activities described in paragraph (1); and

an accounting of funds used to execute the Human Rights Defender Fund activities.