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 Mattis's Meeting with Vietnam Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich
"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Vietnam Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich for the fifth time today to reaffirm the long-standing defense relationship between the United States and Vietnam. The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, to include increasing cooperation in the areas of maritime security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and peacekeeping. They also confirmed close cooperation on addressing legacy of war issues and accounting for U.S. personnel missing from the Vietnam War. Secretary Mattis noted his visit…
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Secretary Mattis's Remarks en route to Vietnam - China
"We are cooperating where possible with China. You see that on DPRK, from the U.N. to -- to an area out there in the Pacific on the sanctions.And obviously, we're not out to contain China. We'd have taken an altogether different stance had that been considered. It has not been considered. But it's out mutual responsibility to responsibly manage differences.We remain highly concerned with continued militarization of features in the South China Sea. Plus, we look at the -- what we consider to be almost…
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Secretary Mattis's Remarks en route to Vietnam - Indo-Pacific
"Okay. We're headed -- and that's not up right now, but we're headed west -- trust me -- for the Indo-Pacific. It is a priority theater, as you all know. We'll be going -- stopping first in Vietnam. This is my second trip there. I've met several times with my counterpart. More about that in a minute.Then we're going down to Singapore. Basically, the defense ministers get together there for ASEAN plus. In other words, there's also one from outside ASEAN, which makes it a…
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Secretary Mattis's Remarks en route to Vietnam - China and the South China Sea
"Q: Mr. Secretary, could I ask you about China?SEC. MATTIS: Sure.Q: You -- you've made some remarks about it. The vice president laid out a -- in his speech, what he called a new approach to China, in which -- some of which seems aimed at being more confrontational in a variety of ways, but militarily, economically, et cetera.On the military front, your -- your meetings in Beijing were canceled. On the military front, are we seeing a more -- will we be seeing a…
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Secretary Mattis's Remarks at Press Gaggle - China
"Q: Ask about China, this increased tensions with China. There was a continuous bomber presence mission yesterday over the South China Sea, which is going to -- SEC. MATTIS: The planes that we have – Idrees the planes, the ships sailing in South China Sea and all, that just goes on. If it was 20 years ago and they had not militarized those features there, it would've just been another bomber on its way to Diego Garcia or whatever. Or down to work with one…
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Secretary Mattis's Remarks at Press Gaggle - South Korea
"Q: Do you agree with General [Robert] Abrams [nominee to serve as next commander of U.S. Forces Korea] that there's been a slight degradation in the capabilities of the readiness of U.S. forces in South Korea? SEC. MATTIS: Well, if you -- if you -- if you emphasize the word slight, certainly if you're not training today then you could say there's a slight degradation. Is it notable? Is it material? I think that's why he put the word slight in there. So there --…
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Secretary Mattis's Remarks at the Virginia Military Institute, Lexington, Virginia - North Korea and China
"I think when you look at external threats, the first one I have to look at is the nuclear threat out of Russia and to a lesser degree China and certainly North Korea, but North Korea's an urgent threat. [...] There's also other challenges out there as well, but in terms of urgency, I'd say North Korea. In terms of power right now, it is probably Russia and the nuclear threat. And in terms of long-term political will, it's China. But China does not have…
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Secretary Mattis's Meeting with Malaysian Minister of Defense Mohamad Bin Sabu
"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Malaysian Minister of Defense Mohamad Bin Sabu today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the defense relationship between the United States and Malaysia. The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, and the Secretary thanked Minister Mohamad for Malaysia’s participation in Exercise Tiger Strike, CARAT, and RIMPAC 2018. They also addressed ways to work more closely on maritime security as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Secretary Mattis thanked Minister Mohamad for the visit and noted…
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Secretary Mattis's Meeting with Delfin Lorenzana, Secretary of National Defense of the Philippines
"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Philippine Secretary of National Defense, Delfin Lorenzana today at the Pentagon to reaffirm the longstanding defense relationship between the United States and the Philippines.The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues, to include their commitment to fighting terrorism and reaffirmed U.S. military advisory support to assist the Philippines in combatting ISIS and other violent extremist networks. Secretary Mattis thanked Secretary Lorenzana for his country’s contribution to maritime security through its trilateral air and maritime patrols with…
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Joint Statement on the Inaugural U.S.-India 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue
"The Ministers reaffirmed the strategic importance of India’s designation as a Major Defense Partner (MDP) of the United States and committed to expand the scope of India’s MDP status and take mutually agreed upon steps to strengthen defense ties further and promote better defense and security coordination and cooperation. They noted the rapid growth in bilateral defense trade and the qualitative improvement in levels of technology and equipment offered by the United States to India in recent years. They welcomed the inclusion of India by…
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Secretary Mattis's Opening Remarks at the U.S.-India 2+2 Dialogue
"In our two nations, as reservoirs of religious, cultural, and ethnic diversity, and as proud maritime peoples, we see the U.S.-India relationship as a natural partnership between the world’s two largest democracies, a partnership that is based on convergence of enduring strategic interests and shared respect for the rules-based order.
Our discussion today is a testament to the power of free peoples. I note that over seven decades ago this week, the United States established diplomatic relations with India, prior to its formal independence. Today…