South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act of 2017
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (15 Mar 2017): Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
What this bill does
This bill, the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act of 2017, aims to impose sanctions on certain Chinese individuals and entities involved in activities in the South China Sea and East China Sea. It would require the President to block the U.S.-based property of sanctioned persons and deny entry to the United States for individuals. Additionally, it could lead to restrictions on foreign financial institutions that conduct transactions for sanctioned persons. The bill also prohibits certain U.S. government agencies and vessels from taking actions that could imply recognition of Chinese sovereignty over disputed territories, and bars U.S. persons from facilitating certain investments involving sanctioned individuals or entities.
The bill would affect Chinese persons and entities contributing to construction or development in contested areas of the South China Sea, or engaging in actions that threaten peace and stability in the South China Sea or East China Sea. It would also impact foreign financial institutions that do business with these sanctioned individuals or entities, and countries that recognize Chinese sovereignty over disputed territories could be subject to restrictions on foreign assistance. The bill also addresses U.S. government publications and vessels.
As of its introduction in March 2017, S. 659 had been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The next step in the legislative process would typically involve committee review, hearings, and a potential vote on whether to advance the bill. If passed by the committee, it would then proceed to the Senate floor for consideration.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act of 2017
This bill expresses the sense of Congress that: (1) the United States opposes actions by the government of any country to interfere in the free use of waters and airspace in the South China Sea or East China Sea, (2) China should not continue to pursue illegitimate claims and to militarize an area that is essential to global security, (3) the United States should expand freedom of navigation operations and overflights and respond to Chinese provocations with commensurate actions, and (4) the United States should oppose any unilateral Chinese actions to undermine Japan's control of the Senkaku Islands.
The bill requires the President to impose entry and U.S.-based property sanctions with respect to: (1) any Chinese person that contributes to construction or development projects in areas of the South China Sea contested by one or more members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN); (2) any Chinese person that has engaged in actions or policies that threaten the peace or stability of areas of the South China Sea contested by one or more ASEAN members or areas of the East China Sea administered by Japan or the Republic of Korea; and (3) any person that is owned or acting on behalf of such person, or provides such person with financial, material, technological, or other support.
The President shall prohibit the opening in the United States of, and shall prohibit or impose strict conditions on the maintaining in the United States of, a correspondent account or a payable-through account by a foreign financial institution that conducts financial transactions for a sanctioned person if China has taken specified military-related actions concerning the South China Sea or the East China Sea.
The Department of State shall submit a report to Congress identifying each Chinese person that is engaged in sanctioned activities.
The bill prohibits: (1) with specified exceptions and subject to a presidential waiver, the provision of foreign assistance to the government of a country that recognizes China's sovereignty over the contested territory or airspace in the South China Sea or the East China Sea; and (2) the Government Publishing Office, the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, or U.S. flagged vessels or aircraft from taking certain actions that would imply U.S. recognition of China's sovereignty over such territory or airspace.
No U.S. person may take any action to approve, facilitate, finance, or guarantee any investment, or provide insurance or underwriting, in the South China Sea or the East China Sea that involves any sanctioned person.
Timeline
15 Mar 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations.
Common questions
- What does S. 659 do?
- This bill, the South China Sea and East China Sea Sanctions Act of 2017, aims to impose sanctions on certain Chinese individuals and entities involved in activities in the South China Sea and East China Sea. It would require the President to block the U.S.-based property of sanctioned persons and deny entry to the United States for individuals. Additionally, it could lead to restrictions on foreign financial institutions that conduct transactions for sanctioned persons. The bill also prohibits certain U.S. government agencies and vessels from taking actions that could imply recognition of Chinese sovereignty over disputed territories, and bars U.S. persons from facilitating certain investments involving sanctioned individuals or entities. The bill would affect Chinese persons and entities contributing to construction or development in contested areas of the South China Sea, or engaging in actions that threaten peace and stability in the South China Sea or East China Sea. It would also impact foreign financial institutions that do business with these sanctioned individuals or entities, and countries that recognize Chinese sovereignty over disputed territories could be subject to restrictions on foreign assistance. The bill also addresses U.S. government publications and vessels. As of its introduction in March 2017, S. 659 had been referred to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. The next step in the legislative process would typically involve committee review, hearings, and a potential vote on whether to advance the bill. If passed by the committee, it would then proceed to the Senate floor for consideration.
- Has S. 659 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 659. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 659?
- S. 659 was sponsored by Sen. Rubio, Marco [R-FL] (R-FL), with 2 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 659?
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (15 Mar 2017).
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