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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United States Issues WTO Counter Notification Against India’s Market Price Support for Cotton
"U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced that the United States submitted a counter notification in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Committee on Agriculture (COA) on India’s market price support (MPS) for cotton. The United States has been calling for WTO reform to improve the review process of various Committees in the WTO. To continue to improve transparency in the WTO, the United States filed the second U.S. COA notification under the WTO Agreement on Agriculture regarding another country’s…
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President Trump's Remarks at Diwali Ceremonial Lighting of the Diya
"We’re gathered together today to celebrate a very special holiday observed by Buddhists, Sikhs, and Jains throughout the United States and around the world. Hundreds of millions of people have gathered with family and friends to light the Diya and to mark the beginning of a New Year, a very special New Year.
Our nation is blessed to be home to millions of hardworking citizens of Indian and Southeast Asian heritage who enrich our country in countless ways. Together, we are one proud American family…
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Vice President Pence’s Meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam
"Vice President Pence met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc of Vietnam to reaffirm the United States-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership. Noting the 25th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations in 2020, they agreed to strengthen bilateral cooperation across economic and security realms, including by addressing barriers to trade and by enhancing maritime security cooperation in the South China Sea. The Vice President thanked Vietnam for its cooperation on recovery operations of missing U.S. personnel and for supporting the pressure campaign on North Korea. They agreed to work…
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Vice President Pence and Prime Minister Abe of Japan's Remarks Before Bilateral Meeting
"Well, thank you, Prime Minister Abe. It is a great honor for me to be here on my third visit to Japan. And I bring greetings and the warmest regards from your friend, President Donald Trump.
The Japan-U.S. alliance is historically the cornerstone of peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. And when the President directed me to represent him at the ASEAN and APEC conference, we knew that coming to Japan first was the right step. And I’m grateful for your hospitality and time.
The…
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Secretary Mattis’s Meeting with The Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China, General Wei Fenghe
"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with General Wei Fenghe, the Minister of National Defense of the People’s Republic of China to reaffirm the importance of a constructive and results-oriented military relationship. Both agreed that the military relationship could be a stabilizing factor in the overall bilateral relationship. The Secretary and the Minister discussed several pressing regional security challenges, including North Korea and the enforcement of United Nations Security Council Resolutions.
Secretary Mattis also raised the importance of all maritime forces conducting their operations…
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Vice President Pence's Op-Ed in The Washington Post on US-Indo-Pacific Relations
We seek an Indo-Pacific — from the United States to India, from Japan to Australia, and everywhere in between — where sovereignty is respected, where commerce flows unhindered and where independent nations are masters of their own destinies. This region, which includes more than half of Earth’s surface and population, has experienced great progress when these principles have been respected. While some nations now seek to undermine this foundation, the United States is taking decisive action to protect our interests and promote the Indo-Pacific’s shared…