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 With Jure Tepina of Slovenia’s POP TV - China
"QUESTION: If we can move to China, a question on 5G. You were once asked if Sino-American rivalry is a new cold war of 21st century, and you argued it’s not a matter of U.S. against China but rather a difference – a conflict – between freedom and tyranny. Why do you say so? Because in Slovenia we have a lot of this noninterventionist, like business community is arguing, well, let’s play both sides, let’s not get involved when giants rumble. What would you say…
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Secretary Pompeo and Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Jansa at a Press Availability - China
"SECRETARY POMPEO: [...] It’s important now more than ever, perhaps. The contrast between free and unfree societies has never been clearer, and free nations must work together to confront authoritarian threats. Slovenia has remarkably supported EU sanctions against Russia because it is concerned about its malign activity against Ukraine, but of course we face a number of other threats as well.
Chief among those threats is the Chinese Communist Party and its drive to control people and information and our economies. As you just saw…
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Secretary Pompeo: "Securing Freedom in the Heart of Europe" - China
"SECRETARY POMPEO: [...] Today an even greater threat is the threat posed by the Chinese Communist Party and its campaigns of coercion and control. In your country alone, we see influence campaigns against your politicians and your security forces; we see the theft of industrial data that you have created through your innovation and creativity; we see the use of economic levels[1] to stifle freedom itself.
It’s not tanks and guns. It’s very different from that. The CCP initiates retaliation against innocent parties when…
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Secretary Pompeo With Martin Reznicek of Czech TV - China
"QUESTION: You have come here to confront Russia and China gaining a foothold in this part of the world, in Central and Eastern Europe. Are you seeing enough courage among Czech politicians to join you in this endeavor?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, it’s great to be here. I came here really to celebrate the relationship between the United States and the Czech Republic. We’ve worked on Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria together, all of these places where freedom-loving people have beaten back challenges. We certainly talked about today’s…
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Secretary Pompeo With Matt Schlapp, Chairman of the American Conservative Union for CPAC - China
"QUESTION: So it’s like a mirror image when I think of the communist government of China. In America, what you’re saying is our foreign policy is – one of the foundations of it is making sure that we have a vibrant free market economy. China is really involved in business too; the difference is the communist government seems to own all these state-owned enterprises and these big corporate entities in their country. Give us your perspective about how their system is so much different and…
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Secretary Pompeo With Sean Spicer of Newsmax TV’s Spicer & Co
"QUESTION: You bet. Before I get into the questions, I just want to say I think there’s three groups in America when it comes to politicians: people who have their head in the sand when it comes to China, people who talk a good game, and people who are willing to do what it takes to fight China. You are in that later category, and I want to make sure viewers understand for too long we’ve heard people talk about China; you’re finally doing something…
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Joint Statement on the Erosion of Rights in Hong Kong
"We the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State are gravely concerned by the Hong Kong government’s unjust disqualification of candidates and disproportionate postponement of Legislative Council elections. These moves have undermined the democratic process that has been fundamental to Hong Kong’s stability and prosperity.
We express deep concern at Beijing’s imposition of the new National Security Law, which is eroding the Hong Kong people’s fundamental rights and liberties.
We support the legitimate expectations…
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The United States Designates Individuals in Hong Kong for Curtailing Promised Freedoms
"The Chinese Communist Party has made clear that Hong Kong will never again enjoy the high degree of autonomy that Beijing itself promised to the Hong Kong people and the United Kingdom for 50 years. President Trump has made clear that the United States will therefore treat Hong Kong as “one country, one system,” and take action against individuals who have crushed the Hong Kong people’s freedoms.
Today, the United States designates 11 individuals pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13936. These individuals include Carrie Lam…
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Secretary Michael R. Pompeo’s Call with Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar to discuss ongoing bilateral and multilateral cooperation on issues of international concern, including efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, support the peace process in Afghanistan, and address recent destabilizing actions in the region. Secretary Pompeo and Minister Jaishankar reiterated the strength of the United States-India relationship to advance peace, prosperity, and security in the Indo-Pacific and around the globe. Both leaders agreed to continue close cooperation on a…
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The 53rd Anniversary of the Founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I am pleased to congratulate the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Secretariat on the 53rd anniversary of the founding of ASEAN on August 8. For decades, ASEAN has fostered a more stable, prosperous, and peaceful region. ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms are at the heart of the U.S. vision for the Indo-Pacific and that of our allies and partners. The strategic partnership between the United States…