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 Mattis' Meeting with Japanese Defense Minister Onodera

"The U.S.-Japan alliance is a cornerstone of Indo-Pacific stability, and our commitment to this alliance remains ironclad with a long-term ally. And in support of Indo-Pacific stability, today Minister Onodera and I discussed the opportunities to increase our alliance's capability and deepen our cooperation and to enhance regional security. I'm also encouraged by our joint efforts to improve the foreign military sales process for Japan, while ensuring our cutting-edge technologies, which we share with very few, remain protected."

Secretary Mattis Press Gaggle in Colorado Springs - Japan

"A very close collaboration diplomatically, militarily. We're in very close contact. He [Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera] comes to Washington, I -- as a matter of fact, my first trip actually before his time, but with his predecessor, my first trip after I came into the job in January, and February I was out into Korea, Seoul and Tokyo. We keep very close collaboration with Tokyo, very close. And that's not just me. That's also State Department. That's our civic command. But it took --…

Remarks by Secretary Mattis with Korean Defense Minister Song

"Minister Song, you and I stand side-by-side today, a firm reminder that the U.S.-ROK alliance continues to withstand the test of time. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the signing of the U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty and 50 years of close consultation through our joint security consultative meetings. I look forward to welcoming you back to Washington, D.C. this October for the next meeting. These milestones signify the strong U.S.-ROK relationship of the past and the continued strength of our alliance for the future…

Secretary Mattis' Meeting with Chinese Central Military Commission Vice Chairman General Xu

"Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with Central Military Commission Vice Chairman General Xu Qiliang June 28, 2018, at the People's Liberation Army's Bayi Building in Beijing, China. The leaders discussed a broad range of defense issues and the importance of substantive military-to-military contacts to reduce risk and strategic uncertainty. Secretary Mattis acknowledged potential areas of cooperation, including shared interest in the denuclearization of North Korea."

Secretary Mattis’ Meeting with Chinese Minister of National Defense General Wei

"On June 27, 2018, Secretary of Defense James N. Mattis met with the Minister of National Defense for the People’s Republic of China, General Wei Fenghe. Secretary Mattis and General Wei openly and candidly discussed a broad range of issues important to the U.S.-China relationship. Secretary Mattis reaffirmed the agreement between President Trump and President Xi for a defense relationship that plays a stabilizing role in the overall bilateral U.S- China relationship. He also emphasized that the U.S. and China bear responsibility for military-to-military relationship…

Press Gaggle by Secretary Mattis - South Korea

"After a couple of days there, we'll launch out of there, and we'll go into Seoul, where I'll meet with Minister of Defense Song, and perhaps other leaders, but Minister of Defense Song is my counterpart, Admiral Song, former admiral in the ROK, Republic of Korea Navy. We maintain very, very strong links between us, close and continuous consultation. The alliance is very strong. We share that commitment to protect our shared democratic values. That has come through loud and clear with the new administration…

Press Gaggle by Secretary Mattis - China

"This is my first trip to China, but it does follow two meeting with interlocutors last year. The first one was Mar-a-Lago, and the second one was in Washington, D.C. The first one was with President Xi, President Trump at Mar-a-Lago, and our counterparts for secretary of state and myself. The second one was in Foggy Bottom, State Department, and that was what we call a two-plus-two, secretary of state, secretary of defense, and our counterparts from China. To the consultations, as you probably already…

Secretary Mattis Press Statement on Military Exercises on the Korean Peninsula

"To support implementing the outcomes of the Singapore Summit, and in coordination with our Republic of Korea ally, Secretary Mattis has indefinitely suspended select exercises. This includes suspending FREEDOM GUARDIAN along with two Korean Marine Exchange Program training exercises scheduled to occur in the next three months. In support of upcoming diplomatic negotiations led by Secretary Pompeo, additional decisions will depend upon the DPRK continuing to have productive negotiations in good faith."

Remarks By Secretary Mattis at the U.S. Naval War College Commencement, Newport, Rhode Island -China

"The third category is that of political will, and that is a potential rivalry, with China harboring long-term designs to rewrite the existing global order. The Ming Dynasty appears to be their model, albeit in a more muscular manner, demanding other nations become tribute states, kowtowing to Beijing; espousing One Belt, One Road, when this diverse world has many belts and many roads; and attempting to replicate on the international stage their authoritarian domestic model, militarizing South China Sea features while using predatory economics of…

Remarks By Secretary Mattis at the U.S. Naval War College Commencement, Newport, Rhode Island - North Korea

"First, on urgency, we see it epitomized by the North Korea situation, as well as by the threat from violent extremist organizations, two very, very different challenges that have our ongoing attention. Certainly, President Trump's historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un proves, and I quote here, 'The past does not have to define the future,' unquote. But, while a possible new avenue to peace now exists with North Korea, we remain vigilant regarding pursuit of nuclear weapons anywhere in the world."

Secretary Mattis Calls with South Korean, Japanese Counterparts

"Defense Secretary James N. Mattis spoke by phone today to Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera and South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo in two separate calls to discuss the results of the recent summit between the U.S. and North Korea [...] Mattis and Song discussed their mutual support for ongoing diplomatic efforts, to include how their two nations are working together to fulfill the president’s guidance on U.S.-South Korean combined military exercises [...] In his call to Onodera, Mattis reaffirmed the United States’ ironclad defense…