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 Meeting With Burmese Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor Kyaw Tint Swe
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met September 27 with Burmese Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor Kyaw Tint Swe in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly meetings. While underscoring U.S. support for the democratic transition in Burma and efforts to achieve national peace and reconciliation, the Secretary urged the Government of Burma to take concrete steps to investigate the human rights abuses chronicled by the U.S. Documentation Report and UN Fact Finding Mission and to hold accountable members…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on China's National Day
"On behalf of the people of the United States, I wish congratulations to the People’s Republic of China as you celebrate your National Day on October 1.
Please know that the United States wishes you a joyous holiday, and that this year brings peace and prosperity."
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on the Republic of Palau's National Day
"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I warmly congratulate all Palauans as you celebrate your 24th Independence Day.
Palau and the United States have a long tradition of friendship and partnership. This vital relationship is built on a foundation of common values and shared sacrifices for freedom. Our bilateral relationship is flourishing under the U.S.-Palau Compact of Free Association, which enables the United States to ensure Palau’s continued security and economic prosperity. We look forward to working with Palau as…
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Press Conference by President Trump - Trade with Japan and South Korea
"We’ve covered a great deal of territory. Just left, as you know, Prime Minister Abe of Japan. We’re starting trade talks with Japan. They were not willing, for years, to talk trade, and now they’re willing to talk trade. And I’m sure we’ll make a very good deal.
Just concluded, as you know — two days ago, signed a deal with South Korea — a trade deal. A tremendous deal with South Korea. It means a lot of business for our farmers. We’re opening up…
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Press Conference by President Trump - China
With China, as you know, we put out an announcement today. They would like to see me lose an election because they’ve never been challenged like this. But I want to open up China to our farmers and to our industrialists and our companies. And China is not open, but we’re open to them. They charge us 25, 35, 55 percent for things, and we charge them nothing in terms of coming into the country.
Cars, they’re at 25 percent. And we’re at 2 percent…
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Press Conference by President Trump - China Part 2
"Q Thank you, Mr. President. Earlier today and just now, you made a significant allegation against the Chinese government. You suggested that the Chinese —
THE PRESIDENT: I did.
Q — had meddled in or are meddling in —
THE PRESIDENT: That’s right. That’s what I hear.
Q — the 2018 midterm elections.
THE PRESIDENT: That’s what I hear.
Q What evidence do you have of that, sir? Is there a national intelligence estimate, for example, that you’re prepared to put forward?
THE PRESIDENT: We…
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Remarks at a Meeting on the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
"We want to see that time come as quickly as possible. But the path to peace and a brighter future is only through diplomacy and only denuclearization. That means any other path North Korea may choose will inevitably lead to ever-increasing isolation and pressure.
It is imperative for members of the United Nations to take that to heart. Enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions must continue vigorously and without fail until we realize the fully, final, verified denuclearization. The members of this council must set…
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Press Conference by President Trump - North Korea
"Q You’re getting letters from Chairman Kim. Why do you need a second summit with the North Korean leader so soon? And what do you —
THE PRESIDENT: Because he’d like it.
Q What would it be for?
THE PRESIDENT: So I’ve received two letters from Chairman Kim. At some point, I’ll, you know, give these letters — they’re incredible letters. They’re letters that are magnificent in the sense of his feeling for wanting to get this done. I really believe he wants to get…
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Secretary Pompeo's Participation in the [UN Security Council Permanent Members] P5 Ministerial Breakfast - North Korea
"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met this morning with UN Secretary-General Guterres and his British, Chinese, French, and Russian counterparts as Permanent Members of the UN Security Council. Secretary Pompeo emphasized the importance of working together to address pressing global challenges.
Secretary Pompeo emphasized the need to fully implement UN Security Council resolutions in order to achieve the final, fully verified denuclearization of North Korea. He also pressed for the re-imposition of sanctions to pressure Iran to change its malign behavior, which continues to threaten regional…
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Press Conference by President Trump - North Korea Part 2
"Q How long do you think it should take North Korea to denuclearize?
THE PRESIDENT: I don’t know. I don’t want to get into —
Q We’ve seen estimates of one year, two year —
THE PRESIDENT: Steve, I don’t want to get into the time game. You know why? I told Mike Pompeo, I said, “Mike, don’t get into the time game.” We stopped them. They’re taking down plants. They’re taking down a lot of different testing areas. They’re going to take down some…
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President Trump's Remarks at the United Nations Security Council Briefing on Counterproliferation - China
"Regrettably, we found that China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election coming up in November against my administration. They do not want me, or us, to win because I am the first President ever to challenge China on trade. And we are winning on trade. We are winning at every level. We don’t want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election."