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 Call With Republic of Korea's Foreign Minister Kang
"On June 17, Secretary Pompeo spoke with Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha of the Republic of Korea to discuss next steps in the wake of the historic Singapore summit. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kang reaffirmed that the United States and the Republic of Korea remain committed to the goal of complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization. The two leaders pledged to maintain close coordination and agreed that pressure must continue until the DPRK denuclearizes."
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USTR Lighthizer Issues Tariffs on Chinese Products in Response to Unfair Trade Practices
"'We must take strong defensive actions to protect America’s leadership in technology and innovation against the unprecedented threat posed by China’s theft of our intellectual property, the forced transfer of American technology, and its cyber attacks on our computer networks.China’s government is aggressively working to undermine America’s high-tech industries and our economic leadership through unfair trade practices and industrial policies like ‘Made in China 2025.’ Technology and innovation are America’s greatest economic assets and President Trump rightfully recognizes that if we want our country to…
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Remarks By Secretary Mattis at the U.S. Naval War College Commencement, Newport, Rhode Island - North Korea
"First, on urgency, we see it epitomized by the North Korea situation, as well as by the threat from violent extremist organizations, two very, very different challenges that have our ongoing attention. Certainly, President Trump's historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un proves, and I quote here, 'The past does not have to define the future,' unquote. But, while a possible new avenue to peace now exists with North Korea, we remain vigilant regarding pursuit of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world."
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Statement by the President Regarding Trade with China
"In light of China’s theft of intellectual property and technology and its other unfair trade practices, the United States will implement a 25 percent tariff on $50 billion of goods from China that contain industrially significant technologies. This includes goods related to China’s Made in China 2025 strategic plan to dominate the emerging high-technology industries that will drive future economic growth for China, but hurt economic growth for the United States and many other countries. The United States can no longer tolerate losing our technology…
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Remarks By Secretary Mattis at the U.S. Naval War College Commencement, Newport, Rhode Island -China
"The third category is that of political will, and that is a potential rivalry, with China harboring long-term designs to rewrite the existing global order. The Ming Dynasty appears to be their model, albeit in a more muscular manner, demanding other nations become tribute states, kowtowing to Beijing; espousing One Belt, One Road, when this diverse world has many belts and many roads; and attempting to replicate on the international stage their authoritarian domestic model, militarizing South China Sea features while using predatory economics of…
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Secretary Pompeo Meets with South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono
"As the President said, this will be a process and not an easy one. Staying closely aligned with our allies, the Republic of Korea and Japan, will be critical to the success of that outcome. The world should rest assured that the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan remain committed to achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea. The U.S. alliances with these two countries are absolutely ironclad. Minister Kang and Minister Kono and I have developed a close friendship…
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Secretary Pompeo's Press Availability with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang
"We also need to make some progress between our two countries on security. As Councilor Wang mentioned, I reaffirmed our concern with respect to China’s efforts to build a militarized outpost in the South China Sea, endangering the free flow of trade and threatening the sovereignty of other nations and undermining regional stability. I urged Councilor Wang and he confirmed China’s willingness to resolve these disputes in a peaceful way without resort to threats, coercion, or intimidation. I am confident that we can continue to…
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Secretary Pompeo's Press Availability with Foreign Minister Kang and Japanese Foreign Minister Kono
"As the President said, this will be a process and not an easy one. Staying closely aligned with our allies, the Republic of Korea and Japan, will be critical to the success of that outcome. The world should rest assured that the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan remain committed to achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea. The U.S. alliances with these two countries are absolutely ironclad. Minister Kang and Minister Kono and I have developed a close friendship…
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Secretary Mattis Calls with South Korean, Japanese Counterparts
"Defense Secretary James N. Mattis spoke by phone today to Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo in two separate calls to discuss the results of the recent summit between the U.S. and North Korea [...] Mattis and Song discussed their mutual support for ongoing diplomatic efforts, to include how their two nations are working together to fulfill the president’s guidance on U.S.-South Korean combined military exercises [...] In his call to Onodera, Mattis reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad defense…