Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) introduced a bipartisan bill aimed at strengthening the United States’ strategic partnerships with Pacific Island nations, support sustainable development, and combat the increasing Chinese aggression in the region. The Pacific Partnership Act would help the U.S. establish a clear, comprehensive strategy to support diplomatic, security, and economic relationships in the Indo-Pacific region.
“Supporting our allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific is critical to our long-term national security,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “This legislation will help foster stability, security, and economic growth in the Pacific Islands, while encouraging better coordination on efforts to combat the Chinese government’s aggression in the region.”
“In the face of Chinese aggression throughout the Indo-Pacific, our partners in the region are our first line of defense,” said Senator Ernst. “We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to gain any foothold. By strengthening coordination with the Pacific Islands through this bipartisan legislation, we can counter the CCP’s malign influence and counter their actions to protect our own security.”
The U.S. has a longstanding relationship with the Pacific Islands, and they play a crucial role in U.S. national security, facilitating military operations in support of American allies and partners. The Nevada National Guard collaborates with the Republic of Fiji and the Kingdom of Tonga under the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program, strengthening security cooperation globally. Cortez Masto’s legislation would strengthen these crucial ties by creating a “Strategy for Pacific Partnership”. This strategy, crafted by the President and presented to Congress every four years, would outline U.S. involvement in the Pacific Islands and highlight combined efforts to combat regional challenges including natural disasters, security threats, and economic development.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
Senator Cortez Masto has been working to support nations in the Indo-Pacific region and push back against influence from the Chinese Communist Party. Last Congress, Senator Cortez Masto helped introduce bipartisan legislation to support Taiwan’s public health efforts against threats from the Chinese government. She’s also introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen the domestic supply chain for rare-earth magnets, which are critical components of cell phones, computers, defense systems, and electric vehicles, but are almost exclusively made in China.
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Source: Office of U.S. Senator Cortez Masto (D-NV)
Author: N/A
Format: Press Release
China Policy Research 