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 Pompeo With Ben Shapiro of The Ben Shapiro Show - Hong Kong
"QUESTION: We’re speaking with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Meanwhile, switching over to the situation over in Hong Kong, local elections were held over the last week or so, and the people of Hong Kong rose up in these local elections and endorsed the pro-democratic candidates. They are standing up against the Government of China. Obviously the administration is in the middle of a trade negotiation with China at this point, and this has led to a bit of an impasse on a Senate bill…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks to the Press - China
"Turning to the Chinese Communist Party. We’ve all seen the “Xinjiang Papers” released in recent days. They detail the Chinese party’s brutal detention and systematic repression of Uighurs and members of other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang.
These reports are consistent with an overwhelming and growing body of evidence that the Chinese Communist Party is committing human rights violations and abuses against individuals in mass detention.
We call on the Chinese Government to immediately release all those who are arbitrarily detained and to end its…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha
"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang today. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kang pledged to maintain close coordination and reaffirmed the importance of the ROK-Japan relationship.
Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kang praised the enduring strength of the U.S.-ROK Alliance and both sides reiterated their commitment to cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, as outlined in the Joint U.S.-ROK Factsheet released on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit November 2."
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Remarks By Secretary Esper in a Preflight Press Gaggle - Briefing on Indo-Pacific Trip
"SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK T. ESPER: Yeah, so I -- my second trip to the INDOPACOM theater. My first was in, what, August, a few months ago. This is my second, so two trips to our priority theater in a span of three to four months. I think it shows to you the importance we place on this theater with regard to our National Defense Strategy, and this was, what, seven-, eight-day trip.
Once again, we met with our traditional allies and with potential new…
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Remarks by President Trump After Tour of Apple Manufacturing Plant - China
"Q Should Apple be exempt from China tariffs?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, we’re looking at that. And, you know, the problem we have is you have Samsung — it’s a great company, but it’s a competitor of Apple, and it’s not fair if — because we have a trade deal with Korea. We made a great trade deal with South Korea, but we have to treat Apple on a somewhat similar basis as we treat Samsung.
Now, with all of that being said, we’re doing very…
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Philippines – U.S. Joint Defense Statement
"U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark T. Esper and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Delfin Lorenzana met in Manila, Philippines on November 19, 2019, to discuss a broad range of shared security interests and priorities. Both secretaries praised the enduring Philippines-United States Alliance, built on a strong foundation of shared values, sacrifices, and history, and bolstered by common interests and people-to-people ties. They pledged to expand cooperation and strengthen the bilateral alliance, a 70-year partnership that ensures both countries' mutual security and contributes to the peace…
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Remarks by President Trump in a Cabinet Meeting - China and South Korea
"And they announced another number this morning. That was a number that was very warm to my heart. Since the election, we’ve created $11 trillion in worth. Now, China has gone down by double that number, and we’ve gone up by $11 trillion. So when — whoever it was that was going to be President, they said, “Within two years, China would overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy.” We’re so far ahead of them right now, it’s not even close. And if…