At the end of last week, U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Fla., introduced the “Connecting Oceania’s Nations with Vanguard Exercises and National Empowerment (CONVENE) Act.”
The bill will “increase cooperation between the U.S. and Indo-Pacific nations to counter the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other malign influence.”
U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, is championing the bill in the upper chamber.
“The bill tasks the Secretary of State and other relevant federal departments to assist in establishing national security councils for each of the Compacts of Free Association (COF) nations, including the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Republic of Palau,” Waltz’s office noted.
“The Chinese Communist Party continues to illegally enter the territorial waters of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau, threatening regional security,” said Waltz. “China’s blatant disregard for international and maritime law underscores the urgency for a national security partnership between the United States and COFA nations to deter further interference and threats from China to their people, infrastructure, and territory. A peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific is integral to protecting our own national security. That’s why I am proud to introduce legislation in the House to encourage cooperation between our nations to address and deter the growing threat of China to the Indo-Pacific.”
“China’s aggressive activity throughout the Indo-Pacific necessitates U.S. action. The location of the COFA nation islands is integral to our strategic interests, but the lack of direct security channels between our nations creates risk. Through increased coordination, my effort strengthens cooperation in the region and helps expose and counter Chinese coercion,” said Ernst. “Before a crisis arises in the Pacific, we must ensure our relationship with these islands is not corrupted by the CCP.”
Waltz’s bill was sent to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee. So far, there are no House co-sponsors.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is co-sponsoring Ernt’s bill. So are U.S. Sens. Mazie Hirono, D-Hi., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Chris Van Hollen, D-Mary. The bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
