Asia Reassurance Initiative Act garners Senate approval

The Senate advanced Wednesday the Asia Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA), which serves as a policy framework to enhance American leadership in the Indo-Pacific region.

The measure, authored by Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO), Ed Markey (D-MA), Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ben Cardin (D-MD), also seeks to demonstrate a commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and the rules-based international order.

“We’ve been working on ARIA, major bipartisan legislation, for nearly three years,” Gardner said. “I urge swift action in the House of Representatives to send this legislation to the President’s desk to be signed into law. ARIA provides a whole-of-government, long-term strategy in Asia that advances American national security interests, promotes American businesses and creates jobs through trade opportunities, and projects American values of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Markey said the rules-based international order is fundamental to global peace and security.

“Asia, arguably the most consequential region for the United States, faces critical challenges, such as nonproliferation, human rights, and respect for democratic values and needs the resources to match that importance,” he said. “This legislation would do important work to address challenges in the Indo-Pacific by authorizing much-needed funds to promote democracy and strengthen civil society, the rule of law, transparency, and accountability.”