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Updated April 4, 2019
The Asia Reassurance Initiative Act (ARIA) of 2018
In December 2018, the 115th Congress passed, and
President Trump signed into law, the Asia Reassurance
Initiative Act of 2018 (ARIA; P.L. 115-409), which
provides a broad statement of U.S. policy for the Indo-
Pacific region. ARIA states, Without strong leadership
from the United States, the international system,
fundamentally rooted in the rule of law, may wither.... It is
imperative that the United States continue to play a leading
role in the Indo-Pacific. The act, which utilizes the Indo-
Pacific framework adopted by the Trump Administration
in its Free and Open Indo-Pacific policy, appears to seek
to reassure U.S. allies, strategic partners, and other nations
of the United States' continued commitment to the region.
Immediately after signing the act on December 31, 2018,
President Trump issued an accompanying signing
statement, noting that several of ARIA's provisions
purport to dictate the policy of the United States in
external military and foreign affairs or require the
executive branch to undertake certain diplomatic initiatives
with international partners. The statement indicated the
Administration will treat these provisions consistent with
the President's exclusive constitutional authorities as
Commander in Chief and as the sole representative of the
United States in foreign affairs.
Main Components
The act is divided into three titles-Promoting United
States Security Interests in the Indo-Pacific Region,
Promoting United States Economic Interests in the Indo-
Pacific Region, and Promoting United States Values in
the Indo-Pacific Region. Each title includes a statement of
U.S. policy, authorizes funding to implement policy (see
Table 1), and requires the Administration to report to
Congress on various aspects of its implementation (see
Table 2).
Security Provisions
ARIA finds that the Indo-Pacific region poses security
challenges that threaten to undermine United States national
security interests, regional peace, and global stability and
that [t]he core tenets of the United States-backed
international system are being challenged by China, North
Korea, and international terrorist organizations.
ARIA emphasizes the importance of working with allies
and partners to confront common challenges and calls for
a policy that secures the vital national security interests of
the United States and our allies and partners. In addition to
emphasizing the U.S. commitment to freedom of
navigation under international law and the peaceful
resolution of maritime and territorial disputes, ARIA
emphasizes the need to expand security and defense
cooperation with allies and partners and to sustain a
strong military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Table I. ARIA's Authorizations for Appropriations
Purpose Amount
For certain security programs $1.5 billion per
year
To promote democracy, strengthen civil $210 million
society, human rights, rule of law, per year
transparency, and accountability in the
Indo-Pacific region
To enhance cooperation with Indo-Pacific $100 million
nations to combat cybersecurity threats per year
To support Indo-Pacific young leaders, $25 million per
including the Young Southeast Asian year
Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) and the ASEAN
Volunteers Program
For critical assistance to human rights $1 million per
defenders year
To establish a comprehensive, integrated, $1 million per
multiyear strategy to encourage the efforts year
of Indo-Pacific countries to implement
national power strategies
To produce a robust and comprehensive Such amounts
trade capacity building and trade facilitation as may be
strategy necessary
To sponsor bilateral and multilateral Such amounts
activities for intellectual property as may be
protection necessary
Note: Funds are authorized for FY20 19 through FY2023.
ARIA makes specific reference to the U.S. commitment to
treaty alliances with Australia, Japan, the Philippines, South
Korea, and Thailand. It highlights the United States'
strategic partnership with India and calls for the
strengthening and broadening of diplomatic, economic, and
security ties between the United States and India. It also
states that it is U.S. policy to support the close economic,
political, and security relationship with Taiwan. In
addition, ARIA states that the United States should elevate
the U.S. relationship with the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) to a strategic partnership and
develop a strategy to deepen trilateral security cooperation
between the United States, Japan, and South Korea. It also
argues that the quadrilateral security 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 enhanced security
partnerships with Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and
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