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 Pompeo's Remarks to Traveling Press - China's Investment in Panama

"QUESTION: Are there specific projects in Panama that you’re eyeing, sort of Chinese investment or Chinese intervention in certain projects in Panama?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, but I don’t want to say anything. We just – it’s a broader – but the importance isn’t that China is out competing in the world. We welcome that. It’s when the state-owned enterprises show up in a way that is clearly not transparent, clearly not market-driven, and is designed not to benefit the people of Panama but rather to…

Secretary Pompeo's Call With Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi

"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke with Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi on October 10 to convey his condolences and continued support to those in Indonesia affected by the earthquake and tsunami that struck Central Sulawesi on September 28. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Marsudi discussed Indonesia’s efforts to respond to the natural disaster and ongoing U.S. assistance to the relief effort. The United States has provided a total of $3.7 million in humanitarian assistance through USAID, and deployed three C-130 Hercules transport aircraft…

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on Fiji National Day

"On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Fiji as you celebrate your 48th year of independence on October 10.

The United States and Fiji share a deep and longstanding friendship based on common values. I would like to commend Fiji on the 40th anniversary of its participation in United Nations peacekeeping missions. We appreciate your government’s continued efforts to enforce UN sanctions pertaining to North Korea. Our partnership in maritime security contributes to our shared goal…

Secretary Pompeo's Meetings in Beijing, China

"On October 8, Secretary of State Pompeo met separately with Member of the Political Bureau and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China Yang Jiechi and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing. They discussed the overall state of the bilateral relationship.

The two sides affirmed the importance of a constructive, results-oriented bilateral relationship. The Secretary directly addressed ‎areas where the United States and China do not agree, including on the…

Remarks With Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi Before Their Meeting

"Thank you, Foreign Minister Wang. Thank you for welcoming me to Beijing. I did indeed want to come here to have discussions (inaudible) the issues that you’ve characterized we have a fundamental disagreement. We have grave concerns about the actions that China has taken, and I look forward to having the opportunity to discuss each of those today because this is an incredibly important relationship.

I do want to share with you my visit with Chairman Kim Jong-un yesterday and the progress we’ve made, and…

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks With Chinese Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission Office Yang Jiechi Before Their Meeting

"Director Yang, it’s good to see you. Thank you for hosting me today. I appreciate it. I look forward to a good conversation. As you said, there are many issues, places where we have disagreements, and it is worthy and important that we listen to each other and work through them to find constructive solutions so that we can get a good outcome for the two of our countries.

I’m pleased to share with you the work that I did this past couple of days…

Secretary Pompeo's Meetings in Seoul, Republic of Korea

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo visited Seoul October 7-8 and met with President Moon and Foreign Minister Kang to give a readout of his October 7 trip to Pyongyang. Secretary Pompeo briefed on his meeting with Chairman Kim, which included his introducing Chairman Kim to Special Representative for North Korea Biegun as his chief negotiator, plans for a second U.S.-DPRK summit, and discussions on achieving the commitments of the June Singapore Summit including the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK as committed to…

Secretary Pompeo's Meetings in Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea

"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo held productive discussions with Chairman Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang Sunday. They discussed the four elements contained in the U.S.-DPRK Singapore Summit Joint Statement signed by President Trump and Chairman Kim. They also discussed the upcoming second summit between President Trump and Chairman Kim and refined options for the location and date of that next summit.

Secretary Pompeo was joined by Special Representative Stephen E. Biegun and Chairman Kim was joined by Kim Yo-jong, First Vice Director of the Korean…

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks With South Korean President Moon Jae-in

"First of all, thank you. Thank you for hosting me, President Moon. It’s great to be here. It was important that I come here tonight on my visit today. You all have been an incredibly important part of the success that we have all had to date, but what we all hope will be the denuclearization and the change in the relationship here on the peninsula. And then, two, I don’t have much to add. I will certainly tell you in private about our conversation…

Secretary Pompeo's Meetings in Tokyo, Japan

"Secretary Pompeo met today with Japanese Prime Minister Abe and Foreign Minister Kono in Tokyo to discuss next steps on DPRK engagement. They reaffirmed our commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK, and agreed that pressure must continue until the DPRK denuclearizes. Both sides affirmed the strength of the U.S.-Japan Alliance and vowed to continue working closely together to address common challenges in the Indo-Pacific."

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks With Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

"Mr. Prime Minister, thank you. Mr. Prime Minister, thank you for hosting me here; I know it's a Saturday. I appreciate you and your team spending time with my team as well. We think it’s very important, and we expect it will be very productive. It’s important for us to hear from you as we – as I travel to Pyongyang to make sure that we’re fully in sync with respect to missile programs, the CBW program. We will bring up the issue of the…

Secretary Pompeo's Call With Maldives President-elect Solih

"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke by phone today with Maldivian President-elect Ibrahim Solih to congratulate him on his recent electoral victory. The Secretary congratulated the Maldivian people for coming out to vote in overwhelming numbers despite challenges. The Secretary noted that the election reflected the will of the Maldivian people, which all parties in the country should respect. He said the United States looks forward to President-elect Solih’s inauguration in November and expanding U.S. cooperation with Maldives in support of a free and open Indo-Pacific."