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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American Poultry Farmers Regain Access to China
"United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement on China’s decision to lift its ban on poultry imports from the United States:
“The United States welcomes China’s decision to finally lift its unwarranted ban on U.S. poultry and poultry products. This is great news for both America’s farmers and China’s consumers,” said Ambassador Lighthizer. “China is an important export market for America’s poultry farmers, and we estimate they will now be able to export more than…
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Secretary Ross Leads Business Executives Across the Indo-Pacific
"In support of the goal of President Donald J. Trump to increase American commercial activity across nations in the Indo-Pacific region, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross led a business delegation including of 16 companies to Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam from November 3 to November 8. This mission spawned new partnerships as well as several business agreements, potentially representing billions in investments.
“The Trump Administration is building new relationships across the Indo-Pacific, creating a bright future, not only for the United States, but for countries…
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Secretary of Defense Esper Press Gaggle En Route to INDOPACOM [U.S. Indo-Pacific Command] - South Korea and North Korea
"SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK T. ESPER: Yeah, so as you all know, this is the beginning of my second visit to Asia as secretary of defense. We have multiple countries that we'll be visiting. Some are longstanding allies. Some are partners in different ways.
And the purpose, of course, is to reinforce the importance of allies and partners, discuss key issues to make sure that they understand clearly that the INDOPACOM theater is DOD's number one priority. And like I said, to discuss a…
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Secretary Pompeo with Hugh Hewitt of the Hugh Hewitt Show - China
"QUESTION: Now I want to turn to your Hudson Institute speech, Mr. Secretary. You received the prestigious Herman Kahn Award. I don’t know that there’s an award that matters more among center-right and intellectually-minded foreign policy mavens. In it, you talked about a pivot time, and you and the Vice President and the National Security Advisor have all talked about the pivot that is happening with the People’s Republic of China, but you preceded that – we’ll get to that – by saying, “Look, we…
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Remarks by President Trump at the Economic Club of New York - China, Japan, and South Korea
"And I will tell you, when I signed — that was another one — Clean Waters of the United States — well, the Paris Accord, too — and I said, “This is going to take guts.” I just closed my eyes and I signed it. (Laughter.) I got one day of a big hit from some of the radical-left newspapers. And then after that, everybody thanks me. They thank me so profusely. You’re talking about trillions and trillions of dollars of destruction would have been…
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Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure - China
"Q Mr. President, what’s your next step for China trade talks? There were some —
THE PRESIDENT: They’re moving along. They’re moving along. They’ve moved slowly. Much too slowly for me. But they want to make the deal much more than I do. But the trade talks with China are moving along, I think, very nicely. If we make the deal that we want, it’ll be a great deal. And if it’s not a great deal, I won’t make it.
But the trade deal is…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks at Koerber Stiftung Axica - China
In China – in China, the Chinese Communist Party is shaping a new vision of authoritarianism, one that the world has not seen for an awfully long time. The Chinese Communist Party uses tactics and methods to suppress its own people that would be horrifyingly familiar to former East Germans. The People’s Liberation Army encroaches on the sovereignty of its Chinese neighbors, and the Chinese Communist Party denies travel privileges to critics – even German lawmakers – who condemn its abysmal human rights record. The…
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Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - China and India
"Q On China, can you tell me whether a tariff rollback will be part of the phase-one China deal?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, they’d like to have a rollback. I haven’t agreed to anything. China would like to get somewhat of a rollback — not a complete rollback, because they know I won’t do it.
But we’re getting along very well with China. They want to make a deal. Frankly, they want to make a deal a lot more than I do. I’m very happy right…
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Remarks by Secretary Ross at the Vietnam CEO Luncheon in Hanoi, Vietnam
"It is my pleasure to be here in Hanoi with all of you, and to be leading a delegation of American companies as we forge stronger commercial ties between our two nations. Thank you to the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the BRG Group for hosting today’s luncheon.
A special thank you to Dr. Vu Tien Loc, Chairman of VCCI; and Madam Nguyen Thi Nga, Chairwoman of BRG Group. I had a great conversation with both of you earlier today about how your…