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.

Methodology

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Secretary Pompeo's Interview With John Dickerson of CBS Face the Nation - North Korea

QUESTION: Let me ask you a question about North Korea. You have talks this week. North Korea is saying they might restart their nuclear program if the U.S. does not start lifting sanctions. Is it still the U.S. position that North Korea will not see any economic sanctions lift until there is complete denuclearization?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So, John, I will. I’ll be in New York City at the end of this week meeting with my counterpart, Kim Yong-chol. I expect we’ll make some real progress…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Sean Hannity of the Sean Hannity Show - North Korea

"QUESTION: I know you’ve followed up since Singapore as it relates to North Korea. Let me ask you – I couldn’t understand the media’s coverage of it because the President really gave up nothing except for a few kind words, but we did get the remains sent back from the Korean War, we did have hostages returned as well. We don’t see rockets being fired over Japan or the world being threatened. It looks like little rocket man fire and fury, our button’s bigger than…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Sean Hannity of the Sean Hannity Show - China

"QUESTION: [...] What is the overall relationship with China like? And as it relates to China, Russia, the United States, where are those – where are their alliances going now?

SECRETARY POMPEO: China, I think, Sean, you have correctly identified as the most important long-term strategic challenge for the United States of America, and that’s across multiple fronts. We’ve talked about trade. We need that to be fair and reciprocal with them. But just this week we indicted 10 Chinese for stealing intellectual property. It’s…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Tony Katz of Tony Katz Today

"QUESTION: Let’s talk about – move it to where I would believe – and you’ll correct me if I’m wrong, sir – our two largest potential, if not actual, geopolitical foes: Russia and China. And part of what I believe we’re seeing is a little bit of a return to more of a Henry Kissinger type theory that you don’t get anywhere by not having a relationship with people; try to have relationships with people, specifically these two nations, so the other nation is more…

Federated States of Micronesia National Day

"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, we would like to congratulate the Federated States of Micronesia on your 32nd anniversary of independence on November 3.

The United States values deeply our strong partnership with the Federated States of Micronesia under the Compact of Free Association. Our close cooperation and engagement at the United Nations demonstrates our commitment to shared democratic values and enhancing economic growth and development. We recognize and appreciate the continued service of Micronesia’s citizens in the U.S…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Brian Kilmeade of The Brian Kilmeade Show

"QUESTION: Now let’s switch, if we can. I know we have a couple more minutes. The Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, with us. It’s hard to imagine, on more levels, America confronting China. The backlash is building around the world in China because they come in with a lot of money and they basically build up certain things, lend money to countries, and they become hostage to them. An example now: Pakistan’s beginning to push back on the debt trap, so to speak. Brazil, the…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Laura Ingraham of The Laura Ingraham Show

"QUESTION: CNBC reported yesterday, Mr. Secretary, that North Korea is reportedly preparing nuclear and missile sites for international inspectors. What can you tell us about – I know you are going to go meet with your North Korean counterpart in just a matter of days, but what’s the latest from North Korea?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So I can’t say much about what’s taking place on the ground, but I can make clear that when I was with Chairman Kim, now three, three and a half weeks…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Laura Ingraham of The Laura Ingraham Show - China

"QUESTION: I want to move to China, Mr. Secretary, because we’ve seen in recent weeks nothing that’s surprising to you or me, because we’ve been following this issue of Chinese stealing our intellectual property and bribing, attempting to bribe foreign officials, including here at different times in the United States – business officials, excuse me – to gain access to technology, critical technology in manufacturing, aviation, and so forth. Now we have this chipmaker ban in place that garnered a lot of attention, and it’s…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Hugh Hewitt of the Hugh Hewitt Show - China

"QUESTION: [...] Mr. Secretary, in the past two weeks I’ve had on Vice President Pence and National Security Advisor John Bolton and now you. They both indicated a clear turning in our strategic posture vis-a-vis the People’s Republic of China and I wanted to ask: Am I correct in recognizing our public tone is different? And was there a moment where the President said, look, I’m going to be the good cop with President Xi and you three, and Secretary Mattis, you, Mike Pompeo, John…

Secretary Pompeo's Call with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs

"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke by phone today with the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Teodoro Locsin Jr., to congratulate him on his new position. The Secretary reaffirmed the longstanding U.S.-Philippines alliance and recognized the Philippines’ important role in the Indo-Pacific region. Secretary Pompeo and Secretary Locsin discussed ongoing efforts to address regional issues such as North Korea, the South China Sea, and counterterrorism."

Secretary Pompeo's Call With Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan

"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke by phone today with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. The two discussed the upcoming U.S.-ASEAN and East Asia Summits in Singapore in November. Both sides looked forward to Vice President Pence’s travel to the region. They also discussed ASEAN’s central role in the Indo-Pacific Strategy and opportunities for further enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation."

Secretary Mattis's Interview With Sabrina Bacal of TVN - China

"QUESTION: Last month the State Department called Charge Cabral for consultations along with the ambassadors of El Salvador and the Dominican Republic. The main issue discussed was China’s growing influence in the region. Do you have any message you wish to deliver in this regard?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So America wants good things for the people of Panama and for the region, and so we want to make sure when there are countries that invest, China included, that they’re done in a way that is consistent…