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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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo With Karen Campbell of NBC WTHR - China and North Korea
"QUESTION: I wanted to start out talking about the G7 summit, just wrapped up. President Trump talked about a lot of issues, and what I want to start with is China and the trade war. Many people believe that these proposed tariffs, if they go through, could lead the U.S. into a potential recession. I wanted to get your thoughts on that.
SECRETARY POMPEO: So I used to represent a place not unlike Indiana, but Kansas – farmers, manufacturers. I ran a small manufacturing company…
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Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Abe of Japan Before Bilateral Meeting - Japan and North Korea
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much. It’s a great honor to be here. We’re having some very good discussions, maybe even great discussions. And I will say that our relationship with Prime Minister Abe and Japan has been, I think, the best it’s ever been. I don’t know, I’ll let you speak to that. But I think it’s the best it’s ever been.
Go ahead.
We’re discussing trade. We’re doing a lot of trade together; a lot of military trade, actually, which is a big…
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Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - China and North Korea
"THE PRESIDENT: We’re going to France. We’re going to have a good few days. I think it will be very productive seeing a lot of the leaders, who are friends of mine, for the most part. I wouldn’t say in a hundred percent of the cases, but for the most part.
And I think we’re doing very well. Our economy is doing great.
We’re having a little spat with China, and we’ll win it. We put a lot of tariffs on China today, as you…
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo And Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland At a Press Availability - China and North Korea
"QUESTION: To Secretary Pompeo, I understand you’re supporting our government in the case of the two detained Canadians in China. I’m wondering what specifically you’ve committed to.
And to Minister Freeland, the steelworkers are denouncing the decision to lift tariffs on the illegally dumped steel from China in British Columbia and the LNG projects. I’m wondering if you can talk about why that decision was made in light of the two Canadians detained in China.
SECRETARY POMPEO: So I’ll try to take the first one…
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo With Gayle King of CBS This Morning - China and North Korea
"QUESTION: Can I focus on – can we take a look at the protests in Hong Kong, now in its 11th straight week? Extraordinary pictures coming from Hong Kong. There were violent protests at the airport, and now it’s very peaceful but very big – over a million people in the streets. Does the Trump administration support the protestors in Hong Kong?
SECRETARY POMPEO: President Trump captured this, I think perfectly, across the weekend when he said we support democracy, we support liberty. We very…
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Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - China, Japan , South Korea, and North Korea
"THE PRESIDENT: So, we’re doing very well with China. We’re talking to China. We’re not ready to make a deal, but we’ll see what happens. But, you know, we’ve been hurt by China for 25, 30 years. Nobody has done anything about it. And we have no choice but to do what we’re doing.
It’s working out very well, as you know. We called them on manipulation and they brought their numbers back, and they brought them back rapidly. And they were able to do…
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Media Availability by Secretary Esper En Route to Tokyo
SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK T. ESPER: Yeah, so first things first.
First good few days, and -- in Australia and -- and New Zealand. I think I often just (inaudible) since I had a chance in each country to meet with my counterpart and fellow defense minister and I had a chance to meet with the foreign ministers, and I had a chance to even meet with -- or chat with the prime ministers of each country. So very good -- very good in that…
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Joint Statement: Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) 2019
"Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne and Minister for Defence Linda Reynolds hosted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper on 4 August in Sydney for the 29th Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN) to deepen economic, security, and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region and globally.
As Prime Minister Morrison and President Trump reaffirmed at the G20 in Osaka on June 27, Australia and the United States are the closest of allies. This year marks the 75th anniversary of the D-Day…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Republic of Korea Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono
"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met yesterday with Republic of Korea (ROK) Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Bangkok, Thailand on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum. They reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-ROK-Japan relationship, their shared commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK, and to continue working closely to address common challenges in the Indo-Pacific."
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Secretary Pompeo On The U.S. In Asia: Economic Engagement for Good
"SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning, everyone. Peter, thank you for the kind introduction. I also want to thank the Siam Society and your president for hosting me. I know too we have many prominent businesspeople here in the room with us today.
I want to recognize Greg Bastion, the president of AmCham Thailand. He’s a West Point grad, so that’s always good.
I especially want to thank the incoming Thai ambassador to the United States as well for joining us here today. Thank you for being…