WASHINGTON—Rep. Scott Franklin (R-FL) has introduced a bill to further block the People’s Republic of China from participating in the Rim of the Pacific, the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, until it has recognized and addressed it’s genocidal actions against the Uighur Muslims. China was invited to participate in RIMPAC in 2014 despite rogue actions in the global community. They are being blocked from further participation unless certain criteria is met. Franklin’s bill would include human right’s abuses in the list of reasons to exclude China from RIMPAC.

 “The People’s Republic of China’s continued oppression of the Uighur Muslims is one of the most repugnant human rights abuses in modern history. As the world leader in standing up for human dignity, the United States must do everything in our power to pressure the PRC into ceasing its horrific behavior. My bill will hold China accountable for their actions against the Uighurs as a condition for being allowed to participate in the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) military exercise,” said Rep. Franklin.

“As the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise, RIMPAC gives participating nations the opportunity to increase their tactical proficiency through military-to-military relations and interoperability. Participation in RIMPAC provides a certain amount of international legitimacy that the PRC does not deserve. The U.S. and its allies should not allow an adversary with a clear track record of aggression and human rights abuses to gain knowledge on maritime operations that could be used against it in the future,” Franklin concluded.

Rep. Franklin’s bill is one of 11 total pieces of legislation being advanced by the Republican Study Committee aimed at pushing back against China’s aggression.

RSC Chairman Jim Banks, Rep. Greg Steube, and Rep. Joe Wilson, all of whom co-sponsored Rep. Franklin’s bill, issued the following statements in support of the bill:

“Members of the Republican Study Committee are leading the way in introducing legislation to counter Communist China. The Obama administration mistakenly allowed China, our greatest adversary, to participate in RIMPAC military exercises, a decision that was later reversed by the Trump administration and Congress,” said Chairman Banks. “This important piece of legislation would add a new common-sense condition to current law that would prohibit countries like China which are participating in genocide from participating in RIMPAC. I thank Congressman Franklin for his leadership.”

“It should be common sense that we shouldn’t be engaging in military exercises with China while they actively commit genocide against the Uighur people,” said Rep. Steube. “I am honored to join Rep. Franklin and the Republican Study Committee in supporting legislation that will hold our adversaries in China accountable for these egregious, ongoing human rights abuses.”

“As Chairman of the Republican Study Committee National Security and Foreign Affairs Task Force, I am grateful to support this effort to counter the Chinese Communist Party,” said Rep. Wilson.

Background: Originating in 1971, Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) is the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise. This exercise is held biennially and is designed to increase the operational and tactical proficiency of participating units in a wide array of maritime operations by enhancing military-to-military relations and interoperability.

In the Fiscal Year 2019 National Defense Authorization Act, Senator Ted Cruz was able to include language to stop the People’s Republic of China from participating in RIMPAC Naval exercises. Until the Secretary of Defense certifies to the House Armed Service Committee and the Senate Armed Service Committee that China has:

• Ceased all land reclamation activities in the South China Sea;
• Removed all weapons from its land reclamation sites;
• And established a consistent four-year track record of taking actions towards stabilizing the region.

The fourth Franklin stipulation would be “Ceased committing ongoing genocide in China, as determined by the Secretary of State on January 19, 2021, recognized and apologized for committing such genocide, and engaged in credible justice and accountability process for all victims of such genocide.”