This resource tracked statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus was given to the comments and activities of President Donald J. Trump; Vice President Mike Pence; United States Trade Representative Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; former Secretary of Defense James Mattis; and former Secretary of Defense Dr. Mark Esper.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday - Hong Kong and North Korea
"QUESTION: Let’s turn to Hong Kong. The chief executive in Hong Kong, appointed by Beijing, has announced that she is suspending – not killing, but suspending a bill of extradition that would allow people in Hong Kong to be extradited to the Chinese mainland. The response from the people in Hong Kong – and there was a massive protest again today – is to protest the measure. Millions of citizens coming into the street. They say that the measure would allow China to crack down…
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Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Varadkar of Ireland Before Bilateral Meeting | Shannon, Ireland - North Korea and China
"Q Sir, did you see those reports of executions in North Korea of the folks who were involved in your summit? Does that worry you at all that Kim would execute these people?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I don’t know if the reports are correct because one of the gentlemen who we deal with is — this is North Korea they’re talking about — is somebody that we know well. He’s a strong man. He’s a strong person. And they like to blame Kim Jong Un…
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo With James Rosen of Sinclair Broadcast Group - North Korea
"QUESTION: Let’s turn to North Korea. You have been given to making statements recently about a number of world leaders to the effect that individual heads of state lack the legitimacy to govern. You’ve said this about Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela. You said this about Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Without encouraging strict comparisons with those circumstances in those disparate states, I put this question to you: Does Kim Jong-un have the legitimacy to govern the people of North Korea?
SECRETARY POMPEO: James, and you’re right…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks to Traveling Press - China and North Korea
"MS ORTAGUS: Ed.
QUESTION: I was wondering how much will you discuss Huawei or Chinese technology and security issues with the various officials, either Germany or other of your —
SECRETARY POMPEO: Everywhere I go. Everywhere I go we talk about the opportunities and challenges that China presents not only to the United States and its security but to countries around the world. So it will be a topic. I can’t imagine a gathering with any of my interlocutors where China won’t be a significant…
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Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Abe of Japan in Joint Press Conference
"Prime Minister Abe, the First Lady and I are profoundly honored to return to this very beautiful nation as Japan’s first state guests following the enthronement of His Majesty the Emperor. On behalf of the United States, we want to thank the Imperial Family for this gracious invitation and warm welcome. It was really wonderful.
Melania and I are thrilled to be back in the Land of the Rising Sun. It is a true privilege to take part in the splendor of this historic moment and…
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Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding President Donald J. Trump’s Upcoming Travel to the Republic of Korea
"President Donald J. Trump will visit the Republic of Korea to meet with President Moon Jae-in, in conjunction with his travel to the region to attend the G20 Summit in late June. President Trump and President Moon will continue their close coordination on efforts to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. The two leaders will also discuss ways to strengthen the United States–Republic of Korea alliance and the friendship between our two peoples."
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Remarks at the Claremont Institute 40th Anniversary Gala: "A Foreign Policy From the Founding" - Indo-Pacific
"On China, the President has taken action to stop China from stealing our stuff. No longer will American companies be forced to hand over their technological crown jewels as the price of doing business in China. (Applause.) When a deal doesn’t work for the United States, no deal shall be done. (Applause.)
We have bolstered our military presence in the South China Sea, and we’ve put nations on notice around the world that the sale of key infrastructure and technology companies to China threatens their…
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Interview With Chris Wallace of Fox News Sunday - North Korea
"QUESTION: Yesterday, North Korea fired what it is calling short-range projectiles. But the question is – and let’s put these up on the screen – were they, in fact, North Korea’s new short-range ballistic missiles? And if so, did they violate North Korea’s moratorium on missile tests since 2017?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Here’s what we know so far. The launches – and there were several – were of a short range. I don’t want to say exactly how long. We’re still working to ensure that we…
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Interview With Jonathan Karl of ABC's This Week - North Korea
"QUESTION: So let’s start with North Korea. What have we learned about what exactly – what kind of projectiles the North Koreans were testing?
SECRETARY POMPEO: So we know a couple things. One, there – at no point was there ever any international boundary crossed. That is, they landed in the water east of North Korea and didn’t present a threat to the United States or to South Korea or Japan. And we know that they were relatively short range. And beyond that – we…
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Interview With Margaret Brennan of CBS Face the Nation - North Korea
"QUESTION: We begin this morning with America’s top diplomat, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Welcome to Face the Nation on a very busy morning for you. On this latest North Korea test, it appears to be short-range missiles. Does Kim Jong-un get a pass on this, or are we looking at a situation where more sanctions are necessary?
SECRETARY POMPEO: So the sanctions haven’t changed. The toughest sanctions in the history of North Korea remain in place. That’s probably what’s putting some of the pressure…