Statement by National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien

From The White House, Oct 23, 2020

The United States promotes a free and open Indo-Pacific region where likeminded nations uphold the international rules-based order.

The United States is a Pacific power.  The People’s Republic of China’s illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and harassment of vessels operating in the exclusive economic zones of other countries in the Indo-Pacific, threatens our sovereignty, as well as the sovereignty of our Pacific neighbors and endangers regional stability.  Efforts of the United States Government, including the United States Coast Guard (USCG) are critical to countering these destabilizing and malign actions.

The USCG continues to modernize and enhance the capabilities of its fleet of major cutters, which play a prominent role in protecting our vital national interests, and where appropriate, those of our partners in the region.  To that end, the USCG is strategically homeporting significantly enhanced Fast Response Cutters, built in a proven Louisiana-based shipyard, in the western Pacific.  The new generation of Fast Response Cutters will conduct maritime security missions, such as fisheries patrols, enhance maritime domain awareness and enforcement efforts in collaboration with regional partners who have limited offshore surveillance and enforcement capacity, and ensure freedom of navigation.

In an effort to bolster our capacity and presence in the Indo-Pacific region, in Fiscal Year 2021, the USCG plans to evaluate the feasibility of basing Fast Response Cutters in American Samoa.  If the survey is favorable, the United States could further expand its presence in the South Pacific.

Enhancing the presence of the USCG in the Indo-Pacific ensures the United States will remain the maritime partner of choice in the region.

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Amata Welcomes USCG Analysis of Cutters in American Samoa

News Release from Rep Aumua Amata, R-AS, Oct 23, 2020

Pago Pago – Friday, Congresswoman Aumua Amata welcomed the announcement by National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien that American Samoa will be evaluated as a location for U.S. Coast Guard Fast Response Cutters.

“American Samoa has always been a strategic port, and this national security consideration of modern Fast Response Cutters in American Samoa makes sense,” said Aumua Amata. “An increased Coast Guard protective, response, and rescue presence is yet another demonstration of the U.S. commitment to the Pacific region, to American Samoa, and to free navigation, the safety of our people, and the importance of the fishing industry that our local economy relies on. Thank you to President Trump, National Security Advisor O’Brien, and the U.S. Coast Guard for taking this key step in fully evaluating Coast Guard cutters in these waters.”

USCG photo (https://dcms.uscg.mil) of a Sentinel class Cutter

According to today’s announcement, in 2021 the USCG will evaluate American Samoa for Fast Response Cutters, with other evaluations for the Pacific based on the security commitment to the Indo-Pacific, ensuring freedom of navigation, and protecting the fishing industry.

LINK: Coast Guard images of Fast Response Cutters

LINK: Learn more about the acquisition of these Fast Response Cutters, named after enlisted heroes

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CB: A mysterious Chinese “fishing militia” has been blamed for contributing to overfishing.