Sec. 1261. South China Sea Initiative
600 words·~3 min read·
/bill/114/hr/1735/eas/section-1261·A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Secretary of Defense, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, is authorized, for the purpose of increasing maritime security and maritime domain awareness of foreign countries along the South China Sea— to provide assistance to national military or other security forces of such countries that have among their functional responsibilities maritime security missions; and to provide training to ministry, agency, and headquarters level organizations for such forces. The provision of assistance and training under this section may be referred to as the South China Sea Initiative . The foreign countries that may be provided assistance and training under subsection
(a)are the following: Indonesia. Malaysia, The Philippines. Thailand. Vietnam. Assistance provided under subsection (a)(1)(A) may include the provision of equipment, supplies, training, and small-scale military construction. Assistance and training provided under subsection
(a)shall include elements that promote the following: Observance of and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Respect for legitimate civilian authority within the country to which the assistance is provided. In developing programs for assistance or training to be provided under subsection (a), the Secretary of Defense shall accord a priority to assistance, training, or both that will enhance the maritime capabilities of the recipient foreign country, or a regional organization of which the recipient country is a member, to respond to emerging threats to maritime security. If the Secretary of Defense determines that the payment of incremental expenses in connection with training described in subsection (a)(1)(B) will facilitate the participation in such training of organization personnel of foreign countries specified in paragraph (2), the Secretary may use amounts available under subsection
(f)for assistance and training under subsection
(a)for the payment of such incremental expenses. The foreign countries specified in this paragraph are the following: Brunei. Singapore. Taiwan. Funds may be used to provide assistance and training under subsection
(a)as follows: In fiscal year 2016, $50,000,000 from amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for that fiscal year for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide. In fiscal year 2017, $75,000,000 from amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for that fiscal year for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide. In each of fiscal years 2018 through 2020, $100,000,000 from amounts authorized to be appropriated for the Department of Defense for such fiscal year for operation and maintenance, Defense-wide. Not later than 15 days before exercising the authority under subsection
(a)or
(e)with respect to a recipient foreign country, the Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a notification containing the following: The recipient foreign country. A detailed justification of the program for the provision of the assistance or training concerned, and its relationship to United States security interests. The budget for the program, including a timetable of planned expenditures of funds to implement the program, an implementation timeline for the program with milestones (including anticipated delivery schedules for any assistance under the program), the military department or component responsible for management of the program, and the anticipated completion date for the program. A description of the arrangements, if any, to support host nation sustainment of any capability developed pursuant to the program, and the source of funds to support sustainment efforts and performance outcomes to be achieved under the program beyond its completion date, if applicable. A description of the program objectives and an assessment framework to be used to develop capability and performance metrics associated with operational outcomes for the recipient force. Such other matters as the Secretary considers appropriate. The authority provided under this section may not be exercised after September 30, 2020.