South China Sea Strategy Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
In Committee
Summary
A U.S. strategy to coordinate diplomacy and security in the South China Sea. The bill would require the State Department, working with the Defense Department, to prepare a detailed plan to deepen ties with littoral states and respond to grey‑zone tactics and economic coercion.
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- Littoral states (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam): Would receive tailored bilateral and collective engagement plans focused on defense cooperation, maritime law enforcement, dispute management, and economic resilience.
- U.S. diplomatic and defense teams: Would have designated lead offices for each goal, an analysis of current programs to identify gaps, and plans for crisis management for scenarios short of war. The strategy may be submitted unclassified with a classified annex.
- Congress and funding plans: Would get the strategy within 180 days, a programs and resources assessment covering fiscal years 2027 to 2029, and a briefing within 30 days after that assessment.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
U.S. South China Sea strategy plan
This bill would state U.S. policy toward the South China Sea and require the Secretary of State, with the Secretary of Defense, to deliver a Strategy for Diplomatic Engagement to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee within 180 days of enactment. The strategy would be unclassified but could include a classified annex. It would lay out U.S. goals on security, law, and trade; name a lead office for each goal; analyze State Department programs and gaps; and include plans for deeper bilateral and collective engagement and crisis management short of war. The Secretary would also have to list program, policy, and budget needs for fiscal years 2027–2029 and send that assessment within 360 days, then brief those committees within 30 days of submission. If enacted, these steps would guide coordination with allies and help shape future funding and actions, but the bill would not itself provide new money.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL]
IL • D
Cosponsors
Sen. Curtis, John R. [R-UT]
UT • R
Sponsored 5/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov