This resource will track statements, developments, visits, and other interactions in US-Indo-Pacific relations under the President Trump administration. Special focus will be 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 Defense Dr. Mark Esper; Secretary of State Mike Pompeo; Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Jr.; former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson; and former Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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President Trump's Interview with The Economist - China and Currency Manipulation
"Now, with that in mind, he’s [Chinese President Xi Jinping] representing China and he wants what’s best for China. But so far, you know, he’s been, he’s been very good. But, so they talk about why haven’t you called him a currency manipulator? Now think of this. I say, “Jinping. Please help us, let’s make a deal. Help us with North Korea, and by the way we’re announcing tomorrow that you’re a currency manipulator, OK?” They never say that, you know the fake media, they…
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CIA Estabishes Korea Mission Center [Remarks by Then CIA Director Pompeo]
"Creating the Korea Mission Center allows us to more purposefully integrate and direct CIA efforts against the serious threats to the United States and its allies emanating from North Korea,” said CIA Director Mike Pompeo. “It also reflects the dynamism and agility that CIA brings to evolving national security challenges."
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Vice President Pence Interview with CBS This Morning - North Korea
"We're not going to negotiate to get at the negotiating table. North Korea knows through U.N. actions in the past, through pronouncements by the world community, they need to abandon their nuclear program, abandon their ballistic missile program, they need to stand down in a very real sense to have the right to engage the world community on the way forward."
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President Trump's Remarks on Future Meeting with North Korean Chairman Kim
"If it would be appropriate for me to meet with him [North Korean leader Kim Jong Un], I would absolutely -- I would be honored to do it. If it’s under the -- again, under the right circumstances. But I would -- I would do that."
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Vice President Pence's Interview with Face the Nation - Indo-Pacific
"I think there was a great deal of gratitude for the leadership President Trump is providing, and the renewed commitment that we have to our allies in the region. Whether it was my time in South Korea or Japan or Australia...I just heard again and again how grateful the leaders of those countries are to see the resolve the president has to finally bring to a conclusion a 25-year objective of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. [...] But I think they greatly welcome the…
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Vice President Pence Interview with CBS This Morning - China and North Korea
"Well, we-- we have word of-- of China turning back coal shipments from North Korea. We have word of them-- beginning to-- reduce the amount of commercial travel that exists between North Korea. But as the secretary of state said at the U.N. last week, China needs to do more. We're calling on our allies in the region to reconsider their diplomatic relations with North Korea. We're-- we're calling on allies in the region to reconsider their guest worker program that provides an enormous amount…
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President Trump's Interview with Face the Nation - China and North Korea
"You can never be sure of anything, can you? But I developed a very good relationship [with China]. I don't think they [China] want to see a destabilized North Korea. I don't think they want to see it. They certainly don't want to see nuclear on -- from their neighbor. They haven't liked it for a long time. But we'll have to see what happens. The relationship I have with China, it's been already acclaimed as being something very special, something very different than we've…
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Remarks Before Meeting With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi
"SECRETARY TILLERSON: Foreign Minister Wang Yi, thank you so much for traveling to New York and in particular participating in this morning’s very important session at the Security Council. I appreciated very much your remarks, and I appreciate the constructive way in which China has engaged with the United States to address the challenges on the Korean peninsula that are common to both of us.
We also appreciate the early relations that we are establishing with the visit of President Xi to Mar-a-Lago. Our two…
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President Trump's Interview with Reuters - China and North Korea
"He [Chinese President Xi Jinping] certainly doesn't want to see turmoil and death [in North Korea]. He doesn't want to see it. He's a good man. He's a very good man and I got to know him very well ...We'll see how it all works out. I know he would like to be able to do something. Perhaps it's possible that he can't. But I think he'd like to be able to do something."
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Secretary Mattis' Joint Statement with Secretary of State Tillerson and Director of National Intelligence Coats
"Past efforts have failed to halt North Korea’s unlawful weapons programs and nuclear and ballistic missile tests. With each provocation, North Korea jeopardizes stability in Northeast Asia and poses a growing threat to our allies and the U.S. homeland. North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear weapons is an urgent national security threat and top foreign policy priority. Upon assuming office, President Trump ordered a thorough review of U.S. policy pertaining to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). [...] We are engaging responsible members of the…
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President Trump's Call with Chinese President Xi
"President Donald J. Trump spoke yesterday with President Xi Jinping of China to address issues regarding North Korea. President Trump criticized North Korea’s continued belligerence and emphasized that Pyongyang’s actions are destabilizing the Korean Peninsula. The two leaders reaffirmed the urgency of the threat posed by North Korea’s missile and nuclear programs, and committed to strengthen coordination in achieving the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula."