; (B) North Korea’s acceleration of its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities; and (C) the increased presence throughout Southeast Asia of the Islamic State (referred to in this Act as ISIS ) and other international terrorist organizations that threaten the United States. (3) The economic order in the Indo-Pacific region continues to transform, presenting opportunities and challenges to United States economic interests. (4) The United States has a fundamental interest in defending human rights and promoting the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region. Although many countries in the region have improved the treatment of their citizens, several Indo-Pacific governments continue to commit human rights abuses and place restrictions on basic human rights and political and civil liberties. (5) Without strong leadership from the United States, the international system, fundamentally rooted in the rule of law, may wither, to the detriment of United States, regional, and global interests. It is imperative that the United States continue to play a leading role in the Indo-Pacific region by— (A) defending peace and security; (B) advancing economic prosperity; and (C) promoting respect for fundamental human rights. (6) The United States National Security Strategy (referred to in this Act as the National Security Strategy ), which was released in December 2017, states— (A) A geopolitical competition between free and repressive visions of world order is taking place in the Indo-Pacific region. The region, which stretches from the west coast of India to the western shores of the United States, represents the most populous and economically dynamic part of the world. The United States interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific extends back to the earliest days of our republic.