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Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) applauded the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations’ passage of their bipartisan South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act (S.1657). The legislation would impose sanctions against Chinese individuals and entities that participate in Beijing’s attempts to aggressively assert its expansive maritime and territorial claims over the South and East China Seas. 

Rubio is Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence and a senior member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.

Cardin is Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on State Department Management.

“There’s no greater threat to a free and open Indo-Pacific than the Chinese Communist Party and its armed wing, the People’s Liberation Army,” Rubio said. “The risk to America’s economic and national security interests in the region are real. The United States needs additional tools to confront Beijing as it continues its effort to unlawfully assert control over maritime territory in the South and East China Seas. The committee’s passage of my bipartisan bill is an important first step, and I urge the full Senate to swiftly pass this legislation.” 

“Aggressive behavior from China in both the South and East China Seas cannot go unchecked,” Cardin said. “Our bill sends a strong bipartisan message that the United States will defend the free-flow of commerce and freedom of navigation, safeguard the sovereignty of our allies, and promote the peaceful diplomatic resolution of disputes consistent with international law.”