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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US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Gala Dinner
"As the Trump Administration begins to advance its agenda for free and fair trade, [Vietnamese] Prime Minister [Nguyen Xuan] Phuc’s visit to Washington is a timely and important opportunity for our two countries to reflect on the impressive growth of our bilateral relationship over the past two decades. Working closely together, our trade and investment ties have grown significantly since we normalized relations in 1995. In 2001, we signed a Bilateral Trade Agreement to serve as a roadmap for increased cooperation on economic reforms in…
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USTR Lighthizer Statement on APEC Meeting
"United States Trade Representative Robert E. Lighthizer attended the 23rd Ministers Responsible for Trade (MRT) meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Hanoi, Viet Nam, May 20-21. The meeting marks Ambassador Lighthizer’s first international trip as U.S. Trade Representative.[...] 'It was important to me to come to APEC first and foremost to reaffirm the President’s strong commitment to promoting bilateral free and fair trade throughout the Asia-Pacific region. APEC provides a great opportunity to focus energy on the barriers to its stated objective of…
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Secretary Mattis' Meeting with New Zealand Minister for Defense Mitchell
"Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis met with New Zealand's Minister for Defense Mark Mitchell in Copenhagen today to discuss the U.S.-New Zealand defense relationship. The two discussed shared collaboration on regional security issues and potential areas to strengthen U.S.-New Zealand defense cooperation. Secretary Mattis expressed appreciation for Minister Mitchell's participation in the D-ISIS ministerial and thanked him for New Zealand's continued collaboration on the D-ISIS mission."
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President Trump's Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Turnbull
"President Donald J. Trump met with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia on May 4, 2017, in New York City. The President thanked Prime Minister Turnbull for traveling to New York for the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea, a gesture which shows the deep ties between the United States and Australia. The President and Prime Minister Turnbull discussed the enduring bonds, deep friendship, and close alliance between the United States and Australia that have been critically important to…
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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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Readout of the Vice President’s Meetings with Australian Officials
"In addition to his meeting and press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Vice President Mike Pence met today with Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop, Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, and Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove in Sydney, Australia. In his meetings, the Vice President underscored the United States’ unwavering commitment to the U.S.-Australia alliance and to the broader Asia-Pacific region. Vice President Pence conveyed the United States’ sincere appreciation for Australia’s significant contributions to Afghanistan and to defeating ISIS. He…
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Readout of the Vice President’s Meeting with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Indonesian Cabinet Ministers
"Today, Vice President Mike Pence met with Vice President Jusuf Kalla and Indonesian Cabinet Ministers in Jakarta, Indonesia. The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ strong, enduring commitment to the Asia-Pacific region and the Strategic Partnership with Indonesia. Vice President Pence expressed appreciation to the Government of Indonesia for its commitment to tolerance and peace. The two agreed to strengthen cooperation across a range of bilateral and regional issues, including bilateral trade and investment."
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Remarks by the Vice President and Indonesian President Widodo to the Press
"I know I’m the first member of President Trump’s administration to visit Southeast Asia, and the President sent me here — sent me here as a sign of the high value the United States places on our strategic partnership with Indonesia. As the second and third largest democracies in the world, our two countries share many common values — including freedom, the rule of law, human rights, and religious diversity. [...] American companies have been doing business in Indonesia for years, and American products and…
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Readout of the Vice President’s Meeting with Interfaith Religious Leaders in Southeast Asia
Vice President Mike Pence participated in an interfaith dialogue with faith leaders of Islam, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, and Confucianism at the conclusion of his tour of the Istiqlal Mosque in Jakarta, Indonesia. Vice President Pence expressed appreciation to Indonesia for its shared commitment to religious freedom and reaffirmed that the United States will continue to defend this fundamental freedom, at home and abroad.
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Vice President Pence Remarks on USS Ronald Reagan - Japan
“The U.S. will strengthen its presence in the Asia-Pacific. Japan will assume a larger role and responsibility in our alliance in the years ahead. Both of our nations will continue to expand our cooperation for our common defense. [...] Under President Trump, the U.S. commitment to Article 5 of our security treaty is unwavering, and the treaty covers all of the territories administered by Japan, including the Senkaku Islands.”