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.; and (former) Secretary of Defense James Mattis.
The Trump Administration & US - Indo-Pacific Relations
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Secretary Pompeo With Tony Perkins of Washington Watch - China
"QUESTION: Well, let me just start with a very pointed question. Is there anything that you could hear about China that would shock you at this point?
SECRETARY POMPEO: When you stare at General Secretary Xi’s actions and put – and just lay them down against the most fundamental human rights, the most unalienable rights that we know each of us has because we’re made in the image of God, there’s an enormous mismatch. And whether – you referenced what’s taking place in Xinjiang –…
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On the CCP’s Orwellian Censorship of Hong Kong
"The Chinese Communist Party’s destruction of free Hong Kong continues. With the ink barely dry on the repressive National Security Law, local authorities – in an Orwellian move – have now established a central government national security office, started removing books critical of the CCP from library shelves, banned political slogans, and are now requiring schools to enforce censorship.
Until now, Hong Kong flourished because it allowed free thinking and free speech, under an independent rule of law. No more. The United States condemns Beijing’s…
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PRC National People’s Congress Proposal on Hong Kong National Security Legislation
"Last week, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National People’s Congress announced its intention to unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong. Beijing’s disastrous decision is only the latest in a series of actions that fundamentally undermine Hong Kong’s autonomy and freedoms and China’s own promises to the Hong Kong people under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a UN-filed international treaty.
The State Department is required by the Hong Kong Policy Act to assess the autonomy of the territory from China. After careful…
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Ambassador Lighthizer's Remarks on U.S.-China Phase One Agreement
"The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) today announced additional progress in the implementation of the agriculture-related provisions of the U.S.-China Phase One Economic and Trade Agreement (The Agreement), which entered into force on February 14, 2020. Recent actions described below build upon the actions announced by USDA and USTR on February 25, March 10, and March 24. These are difficult times for both our countries. It is important that we each continue to…
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P.R.C. Proposal To Impose National Security Legislation on Hong Kong
"The United States condemns the People’s Republic of China (PRC) National People’s Congress proposal to unilaterally and arbitrarily impose national security legislation on Hong Kong. The decision to bypass Hong Kong’s well-established legislative processes and ignore the will of the people of Hong Kong would be a death knell for the high degree of autonomy Beijing promised for Hong Kong under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a UN-filed agreement.
Hong Kong has flourished as a bastion of liberty. The United States strongly urges Beijing to reconsider…
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Secretary Esper's Remarks on China on the Hugh Hewitt Show
[Hugh Hewitt] HH: Let me begin with what Senator Rick Scott just told me. I asked him are we in Cold War 2.0, and the Senator responded absolutely concerning China. There’s no question about it. Do you agree, Secretary Esper, that Cold War 2.0 with China has begun?
[Mark Esper] ME: There’s certainly been a change in this country over the last few months after we’ve seen what China has done with regard to the Coronavirus. I think it’s the latest example of China once…
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The United States Designates Company Providing Services for Iranian Airline Mahan Air’s Operations in China
"The People’s Republic of China is one of the rapidly dwindling number of countries that welcomes Mahan Air, which ferries weapons and terrorists around the world for the Islamic Republic of Iran. Such cooperation has consequences.
Today, the United States designated Shanghai Saint Logistics Limited, a PRC-based company that provides general sales agent services for the Specially Designated Global Terrorist Iranian airline. The United States designated Mahan Air in 2011 under a counterterrorism authority for providing material support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps –…
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Secretary Pompeo at a Press Availability - China and Taiwan
"I want to begin today with a few observations on China, because the media’s focus on the current pandemic risks missing the bigger picture of the challenge that’s presented by the Chinese Communist Party. First, basic facts. China’s been ruled by a brutal, authoritarian regime, a communist regime since 1949.
For several decades, we thought the regime would become more like us through trade, scientific exchanges, diplomatic outreach, letting them in the WTO as a developing nation. That didn’t happen.
We greatly underestimated the degree…
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Taiwan’s Inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen
"I would like to congratulate Dr. Tsai Ing-wen on the commencement of her second term as Taiwan’s President. Her re-election by a huge margin shows that she has earned the respect, admiration, and trust of the people on Taiwan. Her courage and vision in leading Taiwan’s vibrant democracy is an inspiration to the region and the world.
The United States has long considered Taiwan a force for good in the world and a reliable partner. Support for Taiwan in the United States is bipartisan and…
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Remarks by President Trump on Supporting our Nation’s Farmers, Ranchers, and Food Supply Chain - China
"We eliminated crushing Washington regulations, kept our promise on ethanol, and replaced and negotiated our badly broken trade deals to finally give you a fair and level playing field. When China unfairly targeted our farmers, we provided $28 million [billion] in direct assistance. And it came from China, not from our government. And you know that happened, and they paid for it. We didn’t pay. You know, they have this misconception; they like to say this as much as possible.
China devalued their currency in…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on Taiwan’s Exclusion from the World Health Assembly
"The United States condemns Taiwan’s exclusion from the World Health Assembly. At a time when the world continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, we need multilateral institutions to deliver on their stated missions and to serve the interests of all member states, not to play politics while lives are at stake.
No one disputes that Taiwan has mounted one of the world’s most successful efforts to contain the pandemic to date, despite its close proximity to the original outbreak in Wuhan, China. This should…