; and Whereas the past Commander of United States Pacific Command, retired Admiral Dennis Blair, stated, “if we want to focus on the Asia-Pacific going forward, we’re going to have to find a way to pass the Law of the Sea because it does hurt us and it is striking to us that the Chinese have signed and they’re obligated but don’t want to do it”, and “we have not signed but want them to do it, right? So it’s ironical to many in the region” on July 13, 2016, before the Senate Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cyber Security: Now, therefore, be it