Updated April 4 2019 The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act ARIA of 2018 In December 2018 the 115th Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 ARIA P L 115-409 which provides a broad statement of U S policy for the IndoPacific region ARIA states “Without strong leadership from the United States the international system fundamentally rooted in the rule of law may wither It is imperative that the United States continue to play a leading role in the Indo-Pacific ” The act which utilizes the “IndoPacific” framework adopted by the Trump Administration in its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” policy appears to seek to reassure U S allies strategic partners and other nations of the United States’ continued commitment to the region Immediately after signing the act on December 31 2018 President Trump issued an accompanying “signing statement ” noting that several of ARIA’s provisions “purport to dictate the policy of the United States in external military and foreign affairs” or “require the executive branch to undertake certain diplomatic initiatives with international partners ” The statement indicated the Administration “will treat these provisions consistent with the President’s exclusive constitutional authorities as Commander in Chief and as the sole representative of the United States in foreign affairs ” Main Components The act is divided into three titles—“Promoting United States Security Interests in the Indo-Pacific Region ” “Promoting United States Economic Interests in the IndoPacific Region ” and “Promoting United States Values in the Indo-Pacific Region ” Each title includes a statement of U S policy authorizes funding to implement policy see Table 1 and requires the Administration to report to Congress on various aspects of its implementation see Table 2 Security Provisions ARIA finds that the Indo-Pacific region “poses security challenges that threaten to undermine United States national security interests regional peace and global stability” and that “ t he core tenets of the United States-backed international system are being challenged” by China North Korea and international terrorist organizations ARIA emphasizes the importance of working with allies and partners “to confront common challenges” and calls for a policy that “secures the vital national security interests of the United States and our allies and partners ” In addition to emphasizing the U S commitment to “freedom of navigation under international law” and the “peaceful resolution of maritime and territorial disputes ” ARIA emphasizes the need to “expand security and defense cooperation with allies and partners” and to “sustain a strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific region ” Table 1 ARIA’s Authorizations for Appropriations Purpose Amount For certain security programs $1 5 billion per year To promote democracy strengthen civil society human rights rule of law transparency and accountability in the Indo-Pacific region $210 million per year To enhance cooperation with Indo-Pacific nations to combat cybersecurity threats $100 million per year To support Indo-Pacific young leaders including the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative YSEALI and the ASEAN Volunteers Program $25 million per year For critical assistance to human rights defenders $1 million per year To establish “a comprehensive integrated multiyear strategy to encourage the efforts of Indo-Pacific countries to implement national power strategies” $1 million per year To “produce a robust and comprehensive trade capacity building and trade facilitation strategy “Such amounts as may be necessary” To sponsor bilateral and multilateral activities for intellectual property protection “Such amounts as may be necessary” Note Funds are authorized for FY2019 through FY2023 ARIA makes specific reference to the U S commitment to treaty alliances with Australia Japan the Philippines South Korea and Thailand It highlights the United States’ strategic partnership with India and calls for “the strengthening and broadening of diplomatic economic and security ties between the United States and India ” It also states that it is U S policy “to support the close economic political and security relationship” with Taiwan In addition ARIA states that the United States should elevate the U S relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEAN to a strategic partnership and develop a strategy to deepen trilateral security cooperation between the United States Japan and South Korea It also argues that the quadrilateral “security dialogue between the United States Australia India and Japan is vital to address pressing security challenges in the Indo-Pacific region ” It also commits the United States to enhanced security partnerships with Indonesia Malaysia Singapore and https crsreports congress gov The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act ARIA of 2018 Vietnam reaffirms the United States’ commitment to New Zealand and supports “strong United States engagement with the nations of the South Pacific ” Economic Provisions ARIA expresses congressional support for bilateral multilateral or regional trade agreements that respect the rule of law and will create U S jobs and grow the U S economy It urges a “comprehensive economic engagement” framework with ASEAN and continued use of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation APEC the East Asia Summit and the Group of 20 to pursue U S economic objectives ARIA also supports “full implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade Facilitation Agreement by Indo-Pacific countries ” To that end ARIA authorizes monies for trade capacity building and facilitation activities in the region Other economic provisions include an annual report for five years on U S efforts to “combat intellectual property violations and commercial cyber-enabled theft” in the region the authorization of appropriations to “establish a comprehensive integrated multiyear strategy” to encourage Indo-Pacific countries to implement “national power strategies” continuing support for the Lower Mekong Initiative and support for natural resource conservation and women’s economic rights U S Values ARIA states that it is in the national security interest of the United States to promote “human rights and respect for democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region ” It expresses serious concerns about the rule of law and civil liberties in Cambodia China Laos North Korea Thailand and Vietnam as well as “disturbing human rights developments” in Burma Myanmar and the Philippines ARIA encourages the President to “pursue additional efforts to combat trafficking in persons and human slavery ” In addition it calls on the Secretary of State to “establish high-level bilateral and regional dialogues with nations in the Indo-Pacific region regarding human rights and religious freedom violations ” plus people-to-people educational and capacity-building exchanges ARIA authorizes the President to impose sanctions and suspend foreign aid to individuals entities or countries that have violated human rights or religious freedoms Regional Response Official responses in the region were limited Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed ARIA saying it “underscores U S support for and friendship toward Taiwan on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act ” Focusing on ARIA’s Taiwan-related provisions China’s Foreign Ministry said ARIA “grossly interferes in China’s internal affairs ” The ministry warned that the United States “must not implement” those provisions and “should carefully handle the Taiwan-related issues in a cautious manner ”Australia’s Foreign Minister commented “ W e welcome the bipartisan and bicameral support within Congress for a strong and enduring U S role in the IndoPacific most recently enunciated by the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act the ARIA ” Reporting Requirements ARIA requires several reports be provided to Congress most within either 90 or 180 days after enactment or March 31 2019 and June 29 2019 respectively see Table 2 In some cases the reports are to be provided semiannually or annually thereafter most for the following five years Table 2 ARIA’s Reporting Requirements Topic Deadline and Frequency Strategic framework for engagement with ASEAN 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter Cessation of illicit activity violating U N Security Council resolutions by the DPRK government or person acting on its behalf 30 days after termination of any sanction on the DPRK government or person acting on its behalf Strategy “to address the threats posed by and the capabilities of ” the DPRK 90 days after enactment and every 180 days thereafter Assessment of the capabilities of violent extremist groups in Southeast Asia 180 days after enactment U S government efforts to combat intellectual property violations and commercial cyber-enabled threats in the Indo-Pacific region 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter Evaluation of Lower Mekong Initiative activities 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter until 2023 Strategy to promote human rights democracy and good governance in ASEAN nations 90 days after enactment Evaluation of the Human Rights Defender Funds activities 180 days after enactment and annually thereafter Note Unless otherwise noted recurring reports are required for five years after submission of first report Implications for U S Policy ARIA’s main impact is likely to be mostly symbolic signaling U S commitment to the region and the efforts Congress supports to that end The act shows congressional support for many elements of the Administration’s approach to China as a strategic competitor Many observers have also read it however as a sign of congressional unease with President Trump’s treatment of U S allies and traditional partners The President’s proposed budget for FY2020 requests funding for some of the programs ARIA authorized such as cybersecurity threats and YSEALI but does not provide sufficient detail to determine if it reaches ARIA’s authorization levels Michael F Martin Coordinator Specialist in Asian Affairs Ben Dolven Specialist in Asian Affairs Susan V Lawrence Specialist in Asian Affairs Mark E Manyin Specialist in Asian Affairs https crsreports congress gov The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act ARIA of 2018 IF11148 Bruce Vaughn Specialist in Asian Affairs Disclaimer This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service CRS CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role CRS Reports as a work of the United States Government are not subject to copyright protection in the United States Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS However as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material https crsreports congress gov IF11148 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED