Chairman Yoho on the hearing: “Islamist terrorist organizations have operated in Southeast Asia for decades, but ISIS’ attempts to establish a caliphate in the southern Philippines represents a fundamental change in the nature of this threat. For six weeks, Philippine government forces have battled an unknown number of ISIS militants on the island of Mindanao for control of a city. Hundreds have been killed and an estimated 400,000 displaced. The crisis in Mindanao illustrates that ISIS’ radical and brutal ideology is inspiring Southeast Asia’s terrorist organizations to be more cohesive and transnational, increasing the threat to the entire region. The United States and its partners throughout the Asia-Pacific must work together to counter this growing threat, so that Southeast Asia can continue to thrive.”

Witnesses

Mr. Thomas M. Sanderson
Senior Fellow and Director
Transnational Threats Project
Center for Strategic and International Studies
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Ms. Supna Zaidi Peery
Research Analyst
Counter Extremism Project
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Sheena Greitens, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Missouri
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

Mr. Michael Fuchs
Senior Fellow
Center for American Progress
[full text of statement]
[truth in testimony form]

____________________________

Hearing transcript (PDF)