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
All Posts
Text
Secretary of Defense Esper Media Engagement En Route to Sydney, Australia
"SECRETARY OF DEFENSE DR. MARK T. ESPER: Yes. So, let me begin by thanking you all for joining me on this trip. My first trip. And as such, I wanted to make sure that I went to what is our priority theater based on the National Defense Strategy, which says that we are now in an era of great power competition. And our strategic competitors are China and Russia, principally in that order.
So, for those reasons, I want to go out to the…
Text
Trilateral Strategic Dialogue Joint Ministerial Statement, August 1, 2019 - United States, Australia, and Japan
"The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, and Japan.
Begin Text:
Text
Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs Jaishankar
"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met in Bangkok, Thailand with Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on August 2. The two discussed our shared commitment to upholding the rule of law, freedom of navigation, and democratic values in the Indo-Pacific region. The Secretary reaffirmed the positive trajectory of the U.S.-India strategic partnership."
Text
Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - Tariffs Against China
"Q What does China need to do to avoid those tariffs going into force on September 1st?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, I think China — number one, you have to understand, we are so far behind. We have been treated so badly. And I don’t blame China; I blame our past leaders, our past Presidents, our past trade representatives. They’ve done a terrible job.
China — we can’t just go and make an even deal with China. We have to make a much better deal with…
Text
Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo Opening Remarks at U.S.-ASEAN Ministerial
"SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you. Thank you, Foreign Minister. Thanks for hosting here today, and I want to congratulate also Foreign Minister Don on a successful year at Thailand’s chairmanship.
As Secretary of State, a key part of my mission is to tell the world what America stands for. For decades, American diplomacy with ASEAN has been consistently guided by our desire for a partnership of respect towards the sovereignty of each of our nations, and a shared commitment to the fundamental rules of law, human…
Text
Secretary Pompeo And Thai Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai At a Press Availability
"SECRETARY POMPEO: Great. Thank you. Good afternoon, and it’s a privilege to represent the United States of America on this visit to Thailand. Foreign Minister Don and I have been spending a lot of time together this week, as we should. Thailand is our oldest treaty partner here in Asia, and its leadership of ASEAN has been exemplary.
One of my missions throughout this week is to highlight what’s been true in the Indo-Pacific for decades – and in Thailand’s case, centuries – that the…
Text
Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - China, North Korea, and India
"Q Mr. President, why the tariffs against China now? And are you concerned about the nosedive the Dow took today as a result?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I’m not concerned about that at all. I expected that a little bit because people don’t understand quite yet about what’s happened.
We’ve taxed China on 300 billion dollars’ worth of goods and products being sold into our country. And China eats it because they have to pay it. Because what they do is they devalue their currency and…