Chairwoman Elise Stefanik, a senior Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and House Armed Services Committee (HASC), led a bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) to the Indo-Pacific, including Japan, Singapore, and Thailand to meet with various government, military, and cultural leaders in the region to show the United States’ support amidst mounting aggression from Communist China. During the CODEL, Stefanik met with constituents from Clinton, Warren, Washington, and Montgomery counties who are bravely serving in our nation’s military.
“It was my honor to visit key partners in the Indo-Pacific region – Japan, Singapore, and Thailand – with a bipartisan group of my House colleagues,” stated Congresswoman Stefanik. “Communist China continues to encroach on our Indo-Pacific allies and we must continue to strengthen key alliances and partnerships in the region. Upstate NY is incredibly grateful for the brave men and women in uniform who are serving our country in the region and around the world. They represent the very best of our communities.”
The CODEL met with the leadership of United States Indo-Pacific Command, Pacific Air Forces, and the U.S. Pacific Fleet to discuss the Department of Defense’s (DOD) readiness and force posture in the largest military theater. Members toured the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency laboratory to see the important work of identifying missing personnel from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars and the process involved in returning servicemembers to their families and their final resting place. The delegation was also briefed on DOD’s continued recovery and relief efforts in the aftermath of the tragic Maui fires and paid their respects to the more than 53,000 veterans interred at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
In Japan, the CODEL visited the United States Seventh Fleet based in Yokosuka and received an in-depth security briefing from Command Naval Forces Japan. The CODEL was later received by Ambassador Rahm Emanuel, met with Members of the Japanese Diet, and visited the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry. To show solidarity with the Japanese people of Fukushima Prefecture in the wake of Communist China’s propaganda campaign banning the import of goods from the region, the delegation, joined by Ambassador Emanuel, shopped at a grocery store that sells products from the Fukushima region to show they are safe to consume and relay the message that China’s economic coercion toward our allies will not be tolerated. The delegation finished its visit to Japan at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, the largest and most active U.S. Air Force base in East Asia, viewing our air capabilities in the region including seeing the fleet of F-35s.
In Singapore, the CODEL met with the U.S. Ambassador and received embassy briefings, met with the Minister for Home Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also welcomed the delegation.
The final stop on the CODEL was Thailand, the United States’ oldest partner in the region, celebrating 190 years of diplomatic relations this year. Members met with the Thai Foreign Ministry. This delegation was also the first to meet with newly elected Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and discussed the importance of the U.S.-Thai relationship and the continued desire to strengthen the bilateral relationship both militarily and economically to ensure an open and free Indo-Pacific.
The Indo-Pacific is home to some of our closest allies due to shared military and economic interests as well as an investment in democratic values. This bipartisan Congressional Delegation focused on strengthening our partnerships and encouraging continued cooperation amidst Communist China’s increased aggression.
Stefanik traveled with the following colleagues: Ranking Member Jim Himes (D-CT), Congressman Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC), Congressman David Valadao (R-CA), Congresswoman Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Congressman Jake LaTurner (R-KS), Congressman Brad Finstad (R-MN), Congressman Mike Flood (R-NE), Congressman Rudy Yakym (R-IN), Congresswoman Laurel Lee (R-FL), and Congressman Zach Nunn (R-IA).
Find photos from the trip below.
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