The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations

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.

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Secretary Ross and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing Sign Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Financing and Investment Cooperation

"The United States of America (U.S.) and Singapore have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to deepen economic cooperation and extend trade financing and investment support to companies in Singapore and the U.S. The MOU was signed by U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Singapore Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing.

“The U.S. and Singapore have enjoyed more than fifty years of official partnership since we established diplomatic ties in 1966,” said Secretary Ross. “This MOU will help Singapore importers finance the…

Secretary Pompeo With Ben Shapiro of The Ben Shapiro Show - China

"QUESTION: So meanwhile, obviously the Government of China continues to be incredibly aggressive. A data leak apparently shows some 2 million members of the Chinese Communist Party who are embedded at companies all around the globe and governments all around the globe. What do you make of that report about a data leak, and just how dangerous is the Chinese Government in their attempt to infiltrate other countries, both in the private and the public sphere?

SECRETARY POMPEO: I’ve spoken about this very issue a…

Secretary Pompeo With Alex Marlow of Breitbart News Radio on SiriusXM Patriot - China

"QUESTION: One of the topics of conversation today on the broadcast has been this story that came out of The Australian of 1.95 million Chinese Communist members who have infiltrated companies really around the world and also government agencies. Did you get a look at this one and do you have any reaction to it and what it means?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, we’ve seen this everywhere, and President Trump’s been the first president of the United States, and frankly, one of the first global leaders…

Secretary Pompeo With Rob Schmitt of Wake Up America on Newsmax - China

"QUESTION: Secretary Pompeo, we haven’t seen “America First” at this level really since the Reagan administration. Regarding China, you and President Trump really hit the reset button there. How serious a threat do you think China remains right now?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Unfortunately, it’s a tremendous threat. Indeed, I would evaluate the Chinese Communist Party as the greatest threat to security of the American people and indeed the free world of any of them that are out there. There’s a leader, General Secretary Xi Jinping, who…

Public Designations of Current and Former Government Officials Under Section 7031(c) of the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act Due to Involvement in Gross Violations of Human Rights - China

"Finally, the State Department is designating Chief Huang Yuanxiong of the Xiamen Public Security Bureau Wucun Police Station for his involvement in gross violations of human rights in Xiamen, China. Huang is associated with particularly severe violations of religious freedom of Falun Gong practitioners, namely his involvement in the detention and interrogation of Falun Gong practitioners for practicing their beliefs. Today’s action also applies to Mr. Huang’s spouse. The world cannot stand idly by as the PRC government perpetrates horrific and systematic abuses against people…

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo with Tony Perkins of Washington Watch with Tony Perkins - China

"QUESTION: I want to start first with your speech yesterday, which has created a little bit of a stir, because you really took this to the university campuses of America, saying that in some cases they’re being willfully duped by the Chinese Communist Party.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Tony, I’ve made a point as my time as Secretary of State to talk to the American people about why what it is we do in the national security world, whether that’s Department of Defense, the State Department or…

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) on the Chinese Communist Party

"[SECRETARY POMPEO: ] I thought I’d start with a quick story, by way of explanation. Professor Fei-Ling Wang is with us here today. Professor, where – I didn’t see you sitting? Welcome. Nice to see you.

Several years ago, Professor Wang took a trip to China where he was scooped up by security agents inside of China. He was held in a secret location for two weeks. Professor Wang was interrogated and threatened. They wanted information about his research about China and his time teaching…

Designations of National People’s Congress Officials Undermining the Autonomy of Hong Kong

"Beijing’s unrelenting assault against Hong Kong’s democratic processes has gutted its Legislative Council, rendering the body a rubber stamp devoid of meaningful opposition. One aspect of that assault has been the actions of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC), which have effectively neutered the ability of the people of Hong Kong to choose their elected representatives in keeping with the Joint Declaration and Basic Law. These actions demonstrate once again Beijing’s complete disregard for its international commitments under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a U.N.-registered…

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Guy Benson of The Guy Benson Show - China

"QUESTION: Doing well. Hanging in there as best we can. I think a lot of people feel like they’re in the same boat here. It’s been a very tough year, and I think people are optimistic about a vaccine, but it’s a difficult time right now. So let’s talk about foreign policy and the statement that you put out. I was just about to read from part of it on religious freedom, not here at home but violators of religious liberty abroad. Talk about what…

The Kingdom of Thailand’s National Day

"On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I extend best wishes to the government and people of Thailand as you celebrate your National Day.

The United States is proud of our partnership and alliance with Thailand and our shared values of freedom, peace, and prosperity. After more than 200 years of diplomatic ties, we remain committed to the strong security, economic, and people-to-people ties that exist between our great countries. This year’s launch of the Mekong-U.S. Partnership reaffirmed the…

U.S. Imposes Sanctions on People’s Republic of China Officials Engaged in Coercive Influence Activities

"The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has long sought to spread Marxist-Leninist ideology and exert its influence all over the world. The CCP’s United Front Work Department funds and supports overseas organizations to spread propaganda and coerces and bullies those who would oppose Beijing’s policies. The United Front frequently intimidates members of academia, businesses, civil society groups, and Chinese diaspora communities, including members of ethnic and religious minority communities who speak out against horrific human rights abuses taking place in Xinjiang, Tibet, and elsewhere in China…

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo at the IISS Manama Dialogue - China

"[SECRETARY POMPEO:] This is the same fact, the same truth, of our policy towards the Chinese Communist Party. And while I won’t go into detail here, I hope to in – we have time together to talk. But for decades, the world had hoped that economic integration would lead to political liberalization – the China fantasy.

It didn’t happen. The Chinese Communist Party never wanted to behave like a normal regime, because at its core it’s not one. Like Iran, the party is a revolutionary…