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 Remarks at Business Community Reception in Vietnam
"But this trying time also presented opportunities for Vietnam. The leaders of Vietnam realized their country could reform, it could open up and build relationships, without threatening the country’s sovereignty, its independence, and its form of government. One key to Vietnam’s enormous rise over the past few decades was a new engagement with the United States of America. This began when the U.S. – the United States and Vietnam began working together to repatriate the remains of American service members lost in Vietnam. This small…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on Recent Meeting with North Korean Officials
"We now have a meeting in Panmunjom set up for July 12 – it could move by one day or two – where there will be discussions between the folks responsible for the repatriation of remains, will take place at the border, and that process will begin to develop over the days that follow. So very productive conversation about the process by which we will deliver on the commitments that were made in the Singapore summit. The North Koreans also confirmed the missile engine testing…
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USTR Releases Product Exclusion Process for Chinese Products Subject to Section 301 Tariffs
"The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today announced a process to obtain product exclusions from the additional tariffs in effect on certain products imported from China under the U.S. response to China’s unfair trade practices related to the forced transfer of U.S. technology and intellectual property. Today, additional tariffs of 25 percent come into effect for Chinese products imported under 818 tariff lines, covering a trade value of approximately $34 billion in 2018. These tariff lines contain products identified as benefiting from China’s…
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President Trump's Interview with Financial Times - China and North Korea
"I have great respect for him [Chinese President Xi Jinping]. I have great respect for China. I would not be at all surprised if we did something that would be very dramatic and good for both countries and I hope so.[...] we cannot continue to trade if we are going to have an unfair deal like we have right now. This is an unfair deal. [...] Yes, we [President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping] will talk about North Korea. And China has great influence…
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Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Onodera
"The U.S.-Japan alliance is a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific stability, and our commitment to this alliance remains ironclad with a long-term ally. And in support of Indo-Pacific stability, today Minister Onodera and I discussed the opportunities to increase our alliance's capability and deepen our cooperation and to enhance regional security. I'm also encouraged by our joint efforts to improve the foreign military sales process for Japan, while ensuring our cutting-edge technologies, which we share with very few, remain protected."
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Secretary Mattis Press Gaggle in Colorado Springs - Japan
"A very close collaboration diplomatically, militarily. We're in very close contact. He [Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera] comes to Washington, I -- as a matter of fact, my first trip actually before his time, but with his predecessor, my first trip after I came into the job in January, and February I was out into Korea, Seoul and Tokyo. We keep very close collaboration with Tokyo, very close. And that's not just me. That's also State Department. That's our civic command. But it took --…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks at the 2018 Trafficking in Persons Report Launch Ceremony
"In Southeast Asia, Burma’s armed forces and others in the Rakhine State dislocated hundreds of thousands of Rohingya and members of other ethnic groups, many of whom were exploited through the region as a result. Some in the Burmese military also recruited child soldiers and subjected adults and children from ethnic minority groups to forced labor. We see the tragic examples of forced labor in North Korea as well. Untold number of North Korean citizens are subjected to forced labor overseas by their own government…