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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President Trump's Remarks on North Korea's Missile Test
"North Korea’s test launch today of another intercontinental ballistic missile—the second such test in less than a month—is only the latest reckless and dangerous action by the North Korean regime. The United States condemns this test and rejects the regime’s claim that these tests—and these weapons—ensure North Korea’s security. In reality, they have the opposite effect. By threatening the world, these weapons and tests further isolate North Korea, weaken its economy, and deprive its people. The United States will take all necessary steps to ensure…
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Statement From Secretary Ross And Secretary Mnuchin Following The U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue
“We thank Vice Premier Wang and the Chinese delegation for making the journey to Washington for this first session of the U.S.-China Comprehensive Economic Dialogue. We also extend our gratitude to Secretary Perdue, Ambassador Lighthizer, Ambassador Branstad, Chair Yellen and Director Cohn for their participation in these meetings. China acknowledged our shared objective to reduce the trade deficit which both sides will work cooperatively to achieve. Since the Presidential Summit, the first 100 days made progress on important issues including credit ratings, bond clearing, electronic…
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[Then CIA] Director Pompeo Delivers Remarks at INSA
"Next, there’s North Korea. [emphasis in original remarks] Pyongyang is pushing 24 hours a day to develop an ICBM that can reach the continental United States with a nuclear warhead. As we witnessed last week, North Korea conducted its inaugural launch of an ICBM, underscoring the gravity of this threat. CIA is working hard on collection and analysis to support the President’s priority—finding a space where the North Korean regime decides that developing this weapon is not worth the risk or expense it entails. For…
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Vice President Pence Interview on The Laura Ingraham Show
"The President of the United States and the United States of America ought to be willing to sit down and explore common interests to advance peace and security and prosperity in the world in virtually every case, North Korea being an exception, until, unless and until North Korea permanently abandons its nuclear and ballistic missiles ambitions [...] We’re going to isolate them more and more economically and diplomatically until they agree to do that. We will not negotiate with them to negotiate which is the…
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President Trump's Meeting with Singaporean Prime Minister Lee
"President Donald J. Trump met with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong of Singapore today at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The two leaders praised the United States-Singapore economic relationship, which serves as an important hub for United States exports to the fast-growing Southeast Asia region. The President and Prime Minister Lee discussed regional security issues and their shared resolve to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear program and cease its provocations. They also affirmed close cooperation in preventing the rise of terrorism and…
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President Trump's Meeting with Chinese President Xi
"President Donald J. Trump met today with President Xi Jinping of China at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. President Trump discussed the destabilizing threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs and the need to respond to North Korea’s major escalation involving the test of an ICBM. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to a denuclearized Korean Peninsula. The two leaders also reviewed work in other areas in the bilateral relationship, including economic issues such as reciprocal trade and market access. President Trump…
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President Trump's Meeting with Indonesian President Widodo
"President Donald J. Trump met with President Joko Widodo today at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The two leaders emphasized their commitment to strengthening the United States-Indonesia strategic partnership, which is grounded in the interests and values shared by two of the world’s largest democracies. They discussed ways to expand fair and reciprocal trade between their countries, as well as ways to strengthen defense cooperation. The two Presidents underscored their resolve to defeat terrorist networks in Southeast Asia and around the world, and emphasized…
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President Trump's Meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Abe
"President Donald J. Trump met today with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan at the G20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany. The two leaders condemned North Korea’s July 4 launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which showed that North Korea is a threat to the United States and its allies, and countries around the world. President Trump and Prime Minister Abe affirmed that the international community must address North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear weapons programs quickly and decisively. President Trump reaffirmed the ironclad commitment of…
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Joint Statement from the United States of America, Republic of Korea, and Japan
"President Donald J. Trump, President Moon Jae-in [of South Korea], and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe [of Japan] met in Hamburg, Germany, on July 6 to discuss the serious and escalating threat posed by the nuclear and ballistic missile programs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). The three leaders condemned the DPRK’s unprecedented launch, on July 4, of a ballistic missile with intercontinental range, a major escalation that directly violates multiple United Nation’s Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and that clearly demonstrates the growing threat…
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President Trump's Remarks on North Korea
"As far as North Korea is concerned, I don't know, we will see what happens. I have some pretty severe things that we are thinking about. That doesn't mean we are going to do it. I don't draw red lines. [...] It's a shame they're behaving this way -- they're behaving in a very, very dangerous manner and something will have to be done about it."
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Secretary Mattis' Call with Korea Minister of Defense Han
"Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke by telephone today with Republic of Korea Minister of Defense Han Min-koo to discuss North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4. Secretary Mattis and Minister Han both strongly condemned North Korea's missile test, agreeing that this reckless provocation poses a threat to security and stability both in the region and to the broader international community. Secretary Mattis re-affirmed the United States' ironclad commitment to the U.S.-ROK alliance and the United States' extended deterrence commitments…
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Secretary Mattis' Call with Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin
"Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis spoke by telephone today with Malaysian Minister of Defense Hishammuddin Tun Hussein to discuss security challenges and our close bilateral defense cooperation. Secretary Mattis and Minister Hishammuddin exchanged views on regional security challenges including terrorism and North Korea. They agreed on the need to increase regional counterterrorism cooperation in order to stem the threat posed by groups like ISIS. They discussed North Korea's test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile on July 4 and the need for regional cooperation…