Young Introduces HARPOON Act to Counter China’s Maritime Aggression

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced the Helping Allies Respond to Piracy, Overfishing, and Oceanic Negligence (HARPOON) Act to combat the devastating economic, environmental, and geopolitical impact of China’s illegal, unregulated, and unreported fishing around the world.

The legislation would expand U.S. cooperation with partner nations, namely in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific, on maritime security through joint Coast Guard patrols, intel-sharing, and security assistance for countering illegal fishing and maritime coercion.

“China is aggressively pursuing maritime dominance in the South China Sea, building and militarizing artificial islands, staking illegal claims to vast swaths of ocean, vacuuming up wildlife, and recklessly pushing out fishermen who depend on those resources to provide for their families,” said Senator Young. “China’s actions threaten our national security and the economy and ecology of the region. The HARPOON Act will spear China’s maritime ambitions and send a message that the CCP’s aggressive behavior cannot continue.”

Young traveled to the Philippines last month to see China’s aggression firsthand and met with senior government and military officials, wildlife researchers, and fishermen to hear their concerns. While Young was in the Philippines, a Chinese warship collided with a Chinese coast guard vessel while chasing a Filipino patrol boat near contested waters. Four Chinese sailors were likely lost at sea during the incident.