New Senate Bill Aims to Sanction Supporters of China’s Maritime Militia

Sens. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Tim Kaine, D-Va., both members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, introduced a bill Sept. 19 that would authorize the president to sanction foreign adversary entities that provide support to China’s maritime militia.

The senators said China increasingly uses the militia in the South China Sea to exert control of territory, conduct illegal fishing and harass vessels belonging to the U.S. and its partners. China disguises the militia as commercial fishing vessels, Romney said.

“By providing the necessary authority to sanction the entities that provide support to this militia fleet, Congress can equip the administration with a tool to send a message that the United States will not allow China’s increased aggression in the region to go unchecked,” Romney said.

The bill is titled the Targeting Illicit Disruption and Encroachment in Seas (TIDES) Act.