; Whereas the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Lloyd Austin, stated that the United States has long treated the UNCLOS’s provisions related to navigation and overflight as reflective of longstanding and customary international law. Our military already acts in a manner consistent with these rights and freedoms, so accession to the Convention will not impact the manner in which we conduct our operations , in response to a question for the record from Senator Hirono on January 21, 2021; Whereas the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti, stated that the United States played a major role in drafting the Convention, and it is favorable to U.S. interests on all significant issues as a result. Further, our Navy already acts in a manner consistent with the Convention’s navigational and overflight provisions. Accession would not impose any additional constraints on the Navy’s ability to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows , in response to advance policy questions on September 14, 2023, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate; Whereas Admiral Franchetti further stated that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea would give our objections to excessive maritime claims a stronger legal foundation that does not rely exclusively on customary international law. When protesting excessive maritime claims asserted by the People’s Republic of China in the South China Sea, the Russian Federation in the Arctic region, and others, the United States would come from a position of increased authority and influence , in response to advance policy questions on September 14, 2023, before the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate