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 Mattis's Remarks at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia - North Korea and China
"I think when you look at external threats, the first one I have to look at is the nuclear threat out of Russia and to a lesser degree China and certainly North Korea, but North Korea's an urgent threat. [...] There's also other challenges out there as well, but in terms of urgency, I'd say North Korea. In terms of power right now, it is probably Russia and the nuclear threat. And in terms of long-term political will, it's China. But China does not have…
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President Trump's Remarks at a Luncheon Hosted by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
"We covered, as you know, during my speech, North Korea. Last year, my tone was somewhat different on North Korea than it is right now. Tremendous progress has been made. And I think you’re going to see an outcome. As the expression goes, “Who knows?” But I think you’re going to see a very, very great outcome.
I hope that, eventually, some of the other countries that we have conflict with — if not war-like conflict, trade conflict, other types of conflict — a lot…
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President Trump's Remarks to the 73rd Session of the United Nations General Assembly - North Korea
"With support from many countries here today, we have engaged with North Korea to replace the specter of conflict with a bold and new push for peace.In June, I traveled to Singapore to meet face to face with North Korea’s leader, Chairman Kim Jong Un.
We had highly productive conversations and meetings, and we agreed that it was in both countries’ interest to pursue the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Since that meeting, we have already seen a number of encouraging measures that few could…
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President Trump's Remarks with South Korea's President Moon - Trade and North Korea
"We’ve had terrific talks on trade. And we’ll be signing, in a little while, a very important trade agreement with South Korea and the United States. And I think it’s a very exciting event.
It was a long time in coming, and it’s a basic redoing of the agreement that was done before, which was a very unfair agreement for the United States. And I think that President Moon and myself, we’re very happy. It’s great for South Korea. It’s great for the United States…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks at Press Briefing on President Trump's Agenda at the UN General Assembly
"Q Okay, then let me ask my second question. North Korea. You’re having a lot of talks with North Korea. You’re not seeing what you need to in terms of denuclearization. How long do you leave the door open before you decide this isn’t working?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, John, look, you have to remember this is a process that will move forward. To set a date certain would be foolish. But make no mistake about it — the conversations that we’re having are important. They’re…
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Joint Statement on the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement
"We, the Presidents of the United States of America and the Republic of Korea, hereby reaffirm our close alliance and the importance of maintaining strong, mutually beneficial trade and economic ties between our peoples.
We welcome the successful conclusion of negotiations between our governments that have resulted in amendments and modifications to improve the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement.
With today’s signing of our newly concluded agreement, we pledge to direct our officials to move forward with additional steps, as required in our respective countries…
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President Trump’s Meeting with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea
"Today, President Donald J. Trump met with President Moon Jae-in of the Republic of Korea in New York. President Moon shared with President Trump the outcomes of the September 2018 inter-Korean summit, which included Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Chairman Kim Jong Un’s reiteration of his commitment to complete denuclearization. President Trump commended President Moon on conducting a successful third inter-Korean summit with Chairman Kim, and noted that there remained much work to be done to accomplish their mutual goal of achieving the final, fully…
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Secretary Mattis's Meeting with Malaysian Minister of Defense Mohamad Bin Sabu
"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Malaysian Minister of Defense Mohamad Bin Sabu today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the defense relationship between the United States and Malaysia. The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, and the Secretary thanked Minister Mohamad for Malaysia’s participation in Exercise Tiger Strike, CARAT, and RIMPAC 2018. They also addressed ways to work more closely on maritime security as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Secretary Mattis thanked Minister Mohamad for the visit and noted…
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Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Chuck Todd of NBC - North Korea
"QUESTION: All right. I know – I’m short on time so I want to make the final issue North Korea. You may end up meeting with your counterpart. I believe there’s an invite there. Kim Jong-un seems to want to have another summit with President Trump. Any preconditions before that could happen again?
SECRETARY POMPEO: We have to make it work. That is, we have to --
QUESTION: What’s “make it work,” though?
SECRETARY POMPEO: We have to build it out, we have to set…
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Interview With Chris Wallace of Fox News - North Korea
"QUESTION: This week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un talked about dismantling missile test sites, nuclear fuel facilities. President Trump called it very positive: “We had very good news from North Korea, South Korea. They met, and we had some great responses. We’re making tremendous progress with respect to North Korea.” But the North Koreans have not agreed to give up a single missile, a single nuclear weapon, nor are they giving us the inventory of their arsenal. Is that tremendous progress?
SECRETARY POMPEO: You have…