U.S. – Australia officials strengthen alliance in face of Chinese expansion in Pacific

Canberra, AUSTRALIA — Uifa’atali Amata is taking part in a Congressional Delegation to Australia led by Chairman Mike Gallagher of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, in which the Members of Congress participated in the Australian American Leadership Dialogue (AALD), and bolstered the AUKUS alliance, a security pact among Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States that is key to Pacific security and stability.

“AUKUS sent a strong and timely signal of commitment to the Pacific,” said Congresswoman Amata. “It’s important to our friends throughout the Pacific Islands to fully see this resolve through, with its emphasis on region-wide stability. It’s an honor to represent American Samoa, a small but strategic U.S. territory in the South Pacific, as the U.S. works with allies to secure peace and commerce, and we support these priorities in Congress.”

Select Committee members Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Rep. Neal Dunn (R-FL), with Rep. Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa) joined Chairman Gallagher in meeting with key Australian officials during the dialogue.

Chairman Gallagher delivered a keynote address to AALD on the importance of the alliance as Chinese Communist Party (CCP)aggression in the world intensifies. In the address, Chairman Gallagher told the delegation of Australian and American officials, “Freedom has never been cheap and most members of Congress understand that it is much better to settle the bill in dollars than in lives. There is no choice between fulfilling our Navy’s requirements and delivering subs for Australia. We can and must do both.”

“Anyone who doesn’t see the growing threat presented by the CCP should pull their heads out of the sand. The CCP’s influence and stronghold on the Pacific will continue to spread until it’s too late to rein in. Our friends in Australia recognize this and want to work with us to secure the Pacific,” said Congressman Dunn. “I’m grateful to Chairman Gallagher for seeing the importance of this trip to bolster the AUKUS partnership. We must be proactive and maintain strong relationships with our allies to protect the Pacific and America.”