South OC Times

Last week, U.S. Representative Young Kim (CA-40), chairwoman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Indo-Pacific, joined a bipartisan congressional delegation to Australia. The delegation included House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10), Subcommittee on the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia Chairman Joe Wilson (SC-02), and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (CA-19).

The group met with senior government and business leaders to discuss ongoing security challenges in the region posed by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and explore new pathways for U.S. engagement in the Indo-Pacific.

Additionally, new defense trade exemptions for the United Kingdom and Australia were announced as part of the trilateral AUKUS security partnership. This move further demonstrates America’s commitment to projecting strength in the Indo-Pacific and deterring CCP aggression.

“Australia is an important ally of the United States and strategic partner to upholding a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Rep. Young Kim. “I appreciated the opportunity to meet with senior leaders to reaffirm our bipartisan commitment to promoting peace through the strength of the United States and our allies and to hear updates on the implementation of the AUKUS trade exemptions, which I was proud to help support by leading the KOALA Act. As chairwoman of the Indo-Pacific Subcommittee, I’ll keep working to ensure the United States projects strength on the world stage.”

Rep. Kim led the Keeping Our Allies Leading in Advancement (KOALA) Act, which became law through FY24 NDAA, supporting Australia’s joint advanced military capabilities under AUKUS.

Photos courtesy of Congresswoman Young Kim's office are available HERE.