Sen. Joni Ernst
An amendment offered by U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) to increase coordination between America and the Pacific island nations in the Compacts of Free Association (COFA) has been included in the Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2024.
Currently, there is limited coordination between the U.S. and the COFA nations — the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia — to counter Chinese malign influence, curb Chinese purchases of land around U.S. installations on the islands, or prevent China’s infiltration and monitoring of U.S. activity throughout the island nations, according to information provided by Sen. Ernst’s staff.
Under the COFA agreements, the U.S. has committed to the defense of these nations in return for sole and expansive military access and a substantial amount of military and veto power, the information says.
“Before America’s security interests in the region are further threatened or a crisis arises in the Pacific, we must ensure our relationship with these islands is not corrupted by the Chinese Communist Party,” Sen. Ernst said.
The lawmaker’s Connecting Oceania’s Nations with Vanguard Exercises and National Empowerment (CONVENE) Act, Senate Amendment 988 to S. 2226, would identify and support the establishment of National Security Councils to coordinate with the U.S. to counter malign influence, according to a bill summary provided by the senator’s staff.
Additionally, SA 988 would enable increased coordination with the COFA nations on emergency humanitarian response, law enforcement and maritime security activities, and counterintelligence, among other items, the summary says.
The amendment also would prevent Chinese espionage monitoring of U.S. activity by requiring and supporting the use of U.S. Department of Defense-approved technical equipment, states the summary.
“China’s aggressive activity throughout the Indo-Pacific necessitates U.S. action,” said Sen. Ernst. “The strategic location of these islands is integral to our national security, but the lack of direct security channels between our nations creates risk. Through increased coordination, my bipartisan effort will strengthen cooperation and help counter and expose Chinese coercion.”