link to page 1 link to page 2 
March 20, 2019
The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) of 2018
In December 2018, the 115th Congress passed, and
cooperation with allies and partners” and to “sustain a
President Trump signed into law, the Asia Reassurance
strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.”
Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA; P.L. 115-409), which
provides a broad statement of U.S. policy for the Indo-
Table 1. ARIA’s Authorizations for Appropriations
Pacific region. ARIA states, “Without strong leadership
from the United States, the international system,
Purpose
Amount
fundamentally rooted in the rule of law, may wither.… It is
For certain security programs
$1.5 bil ion per
imperative that the United States continue to play a leading
year
role in the Indo-Pacific.” The act, which utilizes the “Indo-
Pacific” framework adopted by the Trump Administration
To promote democracy, strengthen civil
$210 mil ion
in its “Free and Open Indo-Pacific” policy, appears to seek
society, human rights, rule of law,
per year
to reassure U.S. allies, strategic partners, and other nations
transparency, and accountability in the
of the United States’ continued commitment to the region.
Indo-Pacific region
To enhance cooperation with Indo-Pacific
$100 mil ion
Immediately after signing the act on December 31, 2018,
nations to combat cybersecurity threats
per year
President Trump issued an accompanying “signing
statement,” noting that several of ARIA’s provisions
To support Indo-Pacific young leaders,
$25 mil ion per
“purport to dictate the policy of the United States in
including the Young Southeast Asian
year
external military and foreign affairs” or “require the
Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and the ASEAN
executive branch to undertake certain diplomatic initiatives
Volunteers Program
with international partners.” The statement indicated the
For critical assistance to human rights
$1 mil ion per
Administration “will treat these provisions consistent with
the President’s exclusive constitutional authorities as
defenders
year
Commander in Chief and as the sole representative of the
To establish “a comprehensive, integrated,
$1 mil ion per
United States in foreign affairs.”
multiyear strategy to encourage the efforts
year
of Indo-Pacific countries to implement
Main Components
national power strategies”
The act is divided into three titles—“Promoting United
States Security Interests in the Indo-Pacific Region,”
To “produce a robust and comprehensive
“Such amounts
“Promoting United States Economic Interests in the Indo-
trade capacity building and trade facilitation
as may be
Pacific Region,” and “Promoting United States Values in
strategy
necessary”
the Indo-Pacific Region.” Each title includes a statement of
To sponsor bilateral and multilateral
“Such amounts
U.S. policy, authorizes funding to implement policy (see
activities for intellectual property
as may be
Table 1), and requires the Administration to report to
protection
necessary”
Congress on various aspects of its implementation (see
Table 2).
Note: Funds are authorized for FY2019 through FY2023.
Security Provisions
ARIA makes specific reference to the U.S. commitment to
ARIA finds that the Indo-Pacific region “poses security
treaty alliances with Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South
challenges that threaten to undermine United States national
Korea, and Thailand. It highlights the United States’
security interests, regional peace, and global stability” and
strategic partnership with India and calls for “the
that “[t]he core tenets of the United States-backed
strengthening and broadening of diplomatic, economic, and
international system are being challenged” by China, North
security ties between the United States and India.” It also
states that it is U.S. policy “to support the close economic,
Korea, and international terrorist organizations.
political, and security relationship” with Taiwan.
ARIA emphasizes the importance of working with allies
and partners “to confront common challenges” and calls for
In addition, ARIA states that the United States should
a policy that “secures the vital national security interests of
elevate the U.S. relationship with the Association of
the United States and our allies and partners.” In addition to
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to a strategic
emphasizing the U.S. commitment to “freedom of
partnership and develop a strategy to deepen trilateral
navigation under international law” and the “peaceful
security cooperation between the United States, Japan, and
resolution of maritime and territorial disputes,” ARIA
South Korea. It also argues that the quadrilateral “security
emphasizes the need to “expand security and defense
dialogue between the United States, Australia, India, and
Japan is vital to address pressing security challenges in the
Indo-Pacific region.” It also commits the United States to
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) of 2018
enhanced security partnerships with Indonesia, Malaysia,
Reporting Requirements
Singapore, and Vietnam, reaffirms the United States’
ARIA requires several reports be provided to Congress,
commitment to New Zealand, and supports “strong United
most within either 90 or 180 days after enactment, or March
States engagement with the nations of the South Pacific.”
31, 2019, and June 29, 2019, respectively (see Table 2). In
some cases, the reports are to be provided semi-annually or
Economic Provisions
annually thereafter, most for the following five years.
ARIA expresses congressional support for bilateral,
multilateral, or regional trade agreements that respect the
Table 2. ARIA’s Reporting Requirements
rule of law and will create U.S. jobs and grow the U.S.
Topic
Deadline and Frequency
economy. It urges a “comprehensive economic
engagement” framework with ASEAN, and continued use
Strategic framework for
180 days after enactment and
of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), the
engagement with ASEAN
annually thereafter
East Asia Summit, and the Group of 20 to pursue U.S.
economic objectives. ARIA also supports “full
Cessation of il icit activity
30 days after termination of
implementation of the World Trade Organization’s Trade
violating UN Security Council
any sanction on the DPRK
Facilitation Agreement by Indo-Pacific countries.” To that
resolutions by the DPRK
government or person acting
end, ARIA authorizes monies for trade capacity building
government or person acting
on its behalf
and facilitation activities in the region.
on its behalf
Strategy “to address the
90 days after enactment and
Other economic provisions include an annual report (for
threats posed by, and the
every 180 days thereafter
five years) on U.S. efforts to “combat intellectual property
capabilities of,” the DPRK
violations and commercial cyber-enabled theft” in the
region; the authorization of appropriations to “establish a
Assessment of the capabilities 180 days after enactment
comprehensive, integrated, multiyear strategy” to
of violent extremist groups in
encourage Indo-Pacific countries to implement “national
Southeast Asia
power strategies”; continuing support for the Lower
U.S. government efforts to
180 days after enactment and
Mekong Initiative; and support for natural resource
combat intellectual property
annually thereafter
conservation and women’s economic rights.
violations and commercial
U.S. Values
cyber-enabled threats in the
Indo-Pacific region
ARIA states that it is in the national security interest of the
United States to promote “human rights and respect for
Evaluation of Lower Mekong
180 days after enactment and
democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region.” It expresses
Initiative activities
annually thereafter until 2023
serious concerns about the rule of law and civil liberties in
Strategy to promote human
90 days after enactment
Cambodia, China, Laos, North Korea, Thailand, and
Vietnam, as well as “disturbing human rights
rights, democracy and good
developments” in Burma (Myanmar) and the Philippines.
governance in ASEAN nations
Evaluation of the Human
180 days after enactment and
ARIA encourages the President to “pursue additional
Rights Defender Funds
annually thereafter
efforts to combat trafficking in persons and human
activities
slavery.” In addition, it calls on the Secretary of State to
“
Note: Unless otherwise noted, recurring reports are required for
establish high-level bilateral and regional dialogues with
five years after submission of first report.
nations in the Indo-Pacific region regarding human rights
and religious freedom violations,” plus people-to-people,
Implications for U.S. Policy
educational, and capacity-building exchanges. ARIA
ARIA’s main impact is likely to be mostly symbolic,
authorizes the President to impose sanctions and suspend
signaling U.S. commitment to the region and the efforts
foreign aid to individuals, entities, or countries that have
Congress supports to that end. The act shows congressional
violated human rights or religious freedoms.
support for many elements of the Administration’s
Regional Response
approach to China as a strategic competitor. Many
observers have also read it, however, as a sign of
Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry welcomed ARIA, saying it
congressional unease with President Trump’s treatment of
“underscores U.S. support for and friendship toward
U.S. allies and traditional partners. The President’s
Taiwan, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan
proposed budget for FY2020 requests funding for some of
Relations Act.” Focusing on ARIA’s Taiwan-related
the programs ARIA authorized, such as cybersecurity
provisions, China’s Foreign Ministry said ARIA “grossly
interferes in China’s internal affairs
threats and YSEALI, but does not provide sufficient detail
.” The ministry warned
to determine if it reaches ARIA’s authorization levels.
that the United States “must not implement” those
provisions and “should carefully handle the Taiwan-related
issues in a cautious manner.” Other governments in the
Michael F. Martin, Coordinator, Specialist in Asian
Indo-Pacific region had little public response to ARIA.
Affairs
Ben Dolven, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Susan V. Lawrence, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Mark E. Manyin, Specialist in Asian Affairs
https://crsreports.congress.gov
The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) of 2018
IF11148
Bruce Vaughn, Specialist in Asian Affairs
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF11148 · VERSION 1 · NEW