People's Republic of China Aggression

Floor Speech

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Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, I rise to condemn action taken by the People's Republic of China, or PRC, in the Ladakh region of India that led to deadly clashes between the two countries on June 15.

Since the truce in 1962, the PRC and India have been divided by a 2,100-mile-long Line of Actual Control. In the months leading up to this clash, the PRC military reportedly amassed about 5,000 soldiers along this boundary, and that clearly meant to redraw longstanding settled borders by force and aggression.

A skirmish, unsurprisingly, broke out on June 15 as a direct result of these troop movements, leaving at least 20 Indian soldiers and an unconfirmed number of Chinese soldiers dead.

This intentional encroachment and escalatory tactics used by the PRC are consistent with other provocative actions its forces have taken throughout South and Southeast Asia. To counter this aggression, I am glad that the House of Representatives passed an amendment that I cosponsored with Congressman Krishnamoorthi that calls on China to cease its military aggression and urges immediate diplomatic action to prevent any further escalation of conflict.

I will continue to work with my colleagues here in Congress to find ways to help bolster our vital relationship with India.

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