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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Remarks by Secretary Ross at the Department of Commerce's Investment Advisory Council [IAC] - China
"China in particular has become a bully in its neighborhood. It is destroying the freedoms of millions of people living in Hong Kong; engages in large-scale ethnic cleansing; is arresting journalists; spies on its students overseas; and continues to scrub the Internet, and not allow our best technology companies to operate there. It is attempting to steal our most import vaccine research.
And, worst of all, China concealed the true nature of a deadly novel virus, allowing tens of thousands of people to fly out…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Participation in 2020 ASEAN-United States Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo joined the annual ASEAN-United States Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with his counterparts from the 10 ASEAN member states via videoconference on September 9.
Secretary Pompeo and his ASEAN counterparts highlighted the breadth and depth of U.S. engagement and commitment to the ASEAN region. They discussed ASEAN and U.S. cooperation on regional political, security, economic, and cultural issues. The Secretary reiterated U.S. support for the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and its role in guiding U.S. engagement with ASEAN. He further…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Participation in the 10th East Asia Summit Virtual Foreign Ministers’ Meeting
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo joined counterparts from 17 countries for the 10th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting this morning. Secretary Pompeo highlighted U.S. support for principles of openness, inclusiveness, transparency, and respect for international law. These principles are shared across our Indo-Pacific vision, ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo Pacific, and the visions of many other EAS member states.
The Secretary praised ASEAN unity and transparency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and outlined U.S. efforts to leverage all available resources to develop…
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Secretary Pompeo With Ben Shapiro of The Ben Shapiro Show - China
"QUESTION: I’m speaking with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. So I know we’re kind of jumping around the globe here. What is the administration’s view on China policy these days? Obviously, the United States has taken a very negative view of how China has been expanding its authority. We’re seeing U.S. companies continue to stick with the Chinese Government. Are there going to be restrictions on what U.S. companies can do in China coming sometime in the near future given the fact that you can…
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Secretary Pompeo's Criticism of China's Media and Propaganda
"Today, the Chinese Communist Party’s main propaganda newspaper, the People’s Daily, refused to run an Op-ed written by our Ambassador in Beijing, Terry Branstad, citing a litany of grievances. Ironically, the Op-ed called for more positive relations between our two countries and asked to “build relationships through unrestricted engagement and uncensored discussion.” The People’s Daily’s response once again exposes the Chinese Communist Party’s fear of free speech and serious intellectual debate – as well as Beijing’s hypocrisy when it complains about lack of fair and…
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Remarks by President Trump in September 7, 2020 Press Conference - China
"Biden wants to surrender our country to the virus, he wants to surrender our families to the violent left-wing mob, and he wants to surrender our jobs to China — our jobs and our economic wellbeing. I’ve taken in billions and billions of dollars from China. No other President has done what I’ve done. I’ve given much of it to the farmers. I’ve given it to farmers and manufacturers, but I’ve given most of it to the U.S. Treasury. Nobody has done that. We haven’t…
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Remarks by President Trump in Press Briefing - India
"Q During the conventions, Kimberly and Don Jr. had the outreach — the Indian American community — with a video called “Four More Years” for you, which has gone viral among the Indian Americans in the battleground states.
So my question is: Would Kimberly, Don Jr., and Ivanka Trump, who are very popular among Indian Americans — would be campaigning on your behalf around the Indian Americans with your views on the India and U.S. relationship?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I — I didn’t understand everything…
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Secretary Pompeo With Hugh Hewitt of The Hugh Hewitt Show - China
"QUESTION: Now, Mr. Secretary, the last time I saw you was at the Nixon Library talking about China, and it was a historic speech, but – and with – it had fallen about 10 days, the China-Iran deal, and we didn’t talk about that because we didn’t quite yet know it. I’d like to ask you: How ominous is that partnership? And contrast it with the United Aram Emirates-Israeli deal that was put together by you and the President and the entire team, Jared, et…
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Secretary Pompeo With Steve Doocy, Jedediah Bila, and Pete Hegseth of Fox & Friends - China
"QUESTION: Secretary, another topic we’re looking at this morning is China. The President, as we know, is on the campaign trail in Pennsylvania, and while there he talked about China as it relates to COVID-19 and also talked about what a Biden administration would mean with respect to our relationship with China. Let’s take a listen to what he said, and then we’ll get your reaction:
PRESIDENT TRUMP: “Never has anybody ripped off our nation like China. We never took in 10 cents from China…
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Secretary Pompeo With Trey Gowdy of The Sean Hannity Show - China
"QUESTION: Likewise. Tell us about the actions you’ve taken against China with respect to their diplomats and why you took it.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Trey, today we took the simple action of telling Chinese diplomats working here in the United States the free ride is over, their ability to conduct espionage here in the United States has – that time has passed, and so we’ve put restrictions on them. They need to ask permission now to conduct meetings with local officials and to gather at certain…