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 Pompeo with Hrvoje Kresic of N1 TV - China
"QUESTION: But it seems that a gap has appeared. Fifty miles from here there’s the Peljesac Bridge being built by Chinese companies. It’s hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of (inaudible) and it’s being built by Chinese companies, not by U.S. companies. How do you explain that?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. Well, that’s a sovereign decision that was made here. Our view has been pretty consistent with respect to how we should treat the Chinese Communist Party all across the world. When they show up, when…
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Secretary Pompeo With Amy Kellogg of FOX News - China
"QUESTION: But let me ask you how it went. You’re fresh from the Vatican. How did it go this morning with the cardinals? What progress did you make?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Look, we had a constructive discussion. We have a shared objective. The Chinese Communist Party is behaving in ways that are reminiscent of what’s only happened in centuries past in terms of human rights violations. We’ve watched them oppress not only Muslim Uyghurs but Christians, Catholics, Falun Gong, people of all faiths. I know that…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks at the Holy See Symposium on Advancing and Defending Religious Freedom Through Diplomacy
"[...] Nowhere, however – nowhere is religious freedom under assault more than it is inside of China today. That’s because, as with all communist regimes, the Chinese Communist Party deems itself the ultimate moral authority.
An increasingly repressive CCP, frightened by its own lack of democratic legitimacy, works day and night to snuff out the lamp of freedom, especially religious freedom, on a horrifying scale.
I spoke on this topic last year for a bit, and I paid special attention last year to the Uyghur…
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Secretary Pompeo and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio at a Press Availability - China
"[SECRETARY POMPEO:] Recovering from the virus should also mean accountability for the Chinese Communist Party, as I urged today, and its blatant cover-up attempts that have led to the deaths of more than 1 million people, and an enormous loss – trillions of dollars of economic wealth – and the terrible situation it’s put ordinary families all across the world.
To that end, the foreign minister and I had a long conversation about the United States concerns that the Chinese Communist Party is trying to…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Japanese National Security Secretariat Secretary General Shigeru Kitamura
"Today, Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with the Japanese National Security Secretariat Secretary General Shigeru Kitamura in Washington, D.C. Secretary Pompeo congratulated Secretary General Kitamura on his re-appointment as Secretary General following Prime Minister Suga’s election on September 16. Secretary Pompeo and Secretary General Kitamura reaffirmed that the U.S.-Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific."
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on China During a Meeting with State Legislatures in Wisconsin
"As Americans across the country were dealing with the pandemic that was released from Wuhan, they’ve been worried about their lives, their livelihoods. Senator Roth got an email from Wu Ting, a person who was in the consul at China’s consulate in Chicago – it landed in his email inbox.
Ms. Wu stated that she was “responsible for China-Wisconsin relations.”
The email included a draft resolution that she asked the Senator to pass – in this chamber – praising China’s response to the coronavirus.
I…
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Secretary Pompeo With Larry O’Connor of the Larry O’Connor Show/WMAL - China
"QUESTION: Can you expand on that? I just played a little audio of your remarks yesterday, and you said that the Chinese Communist Party and its proxies aims to make Americans receptive to Beijing’s form of authoritarianism. Can you expand on that?
SECRETARY POMPEO: So this is precisely the risk the President has identified when we talk about disinformation and Chinese influence here, Chinese Communist Party influence here in the United States. We saw a glaring example when it came to the Wuhan virus, right…
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Secretary Pompeo With Tony Perkins of Value Voters Summit - China
"QUESTION: I want to wrap up our time together by returning to the issue of China. Recently you had made the comment that the world has awakened to the threat Beijing poses to international security and the global economy. When we see what’s happened with the coronavirus, when we see the fact that they’re working even into the – not in only Latin America, but even here in the United States, to undermine America’s republic.
SECRETARY POMPEO: I’ll give you an example. Tomorrow I’m going…
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Palau Independence Day
"On behalf of the Government of the United States and the American people, I congratulate the government and the citizens of Palau as you mark your 26th Independence Day.
The close friendship between our two countries remains firmly rooted in a foundation of respect for democratic principles, human rights, and the underlying fundamental freedoms to which all are entitled. While October 1st marks the beginning of Palau’s 26th year of independence, the ties between our two countries have a much deeper shared history.
The bond…
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Remarks by President Trump to the 75th Session of the United Nations General Assembly - China
"As we pursue this bright future, we must hold accountable the nation which unleashed this plague onto the world: China.
In the earliest days of the virus, China locked down travel domestically while allowing flights to leave China and infect the world. China condemned my travel ban on their country, even as they cancelled domestic flights and locked citizens in their homes.
The Chinese government and the World Health Organization — which is virtually controlled by China — falsely declared that there was no evidence…
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Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on Religious Faith
"Today, sadly, millions and millions of people still live under regimes that want to banish faith from the public square, or any of notion of God from basic civic life.
Today, perhaps the most egregious example is the Chinese Communist Party. Today in the western part of China, a place that none of us might know, a place called Xinjiang, more than a million Chinese have been forced into internment camps, being surveilled 24/7, forced sterilizations, forced abortions, today, in the world in which we…
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Secretary Pompeo With Maria Bartiromo of Fox News Sunday Morning Futures - China
QUESTION: Yeah. I mean, where is Europe in this? Similar situation as it relates to China. You’ve got 30 countries pushing back on Huawei and we’re still waiting on any resolution in Europe. Same with Iran. Can you talk about that a bit and just give me the practical changes that we’ll see as a result of this snapback in sanctions on Iran?
SECRETARY POMPEO: So the second question as a practical thing, there’ll be a whole lot more things that would have taken place…
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Secretary Ross' Statement on Delayed Prohibitions Related to TikTok
"In light of recent positive developments, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, at the direction of President Trump, will delay the prohibition of identified transactions pursuant to Executive Order 13942, related to the TikTok mobile application that would have been effective on Sunday, September 20, 2020, until September 27, 2020 at 11:59 p.m."
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Commerce Department Prohibits WeChat and TikTok Transactions to Protect the National Security of the United States
"In response to President Trump’s Executive Orders signed August 6, 2020, the Department of Commerce (Commerce) today announced prohibitions on transactions relating to mobile applications (apps) WeChat and TikTok to safeguard the national security of the United States. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has demonstrated the means and motives to use these apps to threaten the national security, foreign policy, and the economy of the U.S. Today’s announced prohibitions, when combined, protect users in the U.S. by eliminating access to these applications and significantly reducing…
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Secretary Pompeo With Leeron Brummel of National Communications Network - China
"QUESTION: Ah, 400 (inaudible). Interesting. Part of that, as you said, is helping the interests of the U.S. Government and the Guyana Government in terms of what opportunities we have looking at Guyana’s emerging energy sector as well. Have discussions been held with the private sector agencies or stakeholders, and how are we looking – how do we intend to have a discussion on accessing markets?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. So I talk to American private sector leaders all the time. I consider it part of…
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Nepali Constitution Day
"On behalf of the American people and the United States Government, I extend best wishes to the people of Nepal as you celebrate your Constitution Day on September 19.
For over seven decades, the United States and Nepal have enjoyed friendship and close ties between our peoples, and we are committed to supporting Nepal’s path toward a stable, prosperous, and sovereign future. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Nepal and working together on economic recovery, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development, even as we…
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Secretary Pompeo And Suriname President Chandrikapersad “Chan” Santokhi At a Press Availability - China
"QUESTION: That’s a good idea. Mr. President, thank you. I wanted to ask you if you think that there is a competition between the United States and China here in Suriname and more broadly in the region. Did Secretary Pompeo make a convincing case to choose American companies as you go forward with your economic development, and do you feel that there is a choice that you have to make between the two countries, the United States and China? Thanks very much.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Mr…
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Secretary Pompeo and UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab at a Press Availability - China
"We also discussed the challenges presented to the world by the Chinese Communist Party, and the challenges that that same party presents to the people of China.
We’re all overcoming the virus that the CCP allowed out of Wuhan. But while we’re all recovering, the party’s aggression abroad and abuses at home have gotten even worse.
We appreciate the steps that the British Government has taken to face the China challenge in recent months. That includes remarkable work speaking up for the people of Hong…
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On Yoshihide Suga’s Election as Prime Minister of Japan
"I congratulate Yoshihide Suga on his election by the Diet as the next Prime Minister of Japan. The U.S.-Japan Alliance is the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity in a free and open Indo-Pacific and is central to upholding a rules-based international order. The United States looks forward to working with Prime Minister Suga in promoting the Alliance as a force for transparency, accountability, openness, prosperity, and peace in the Indo-Pacific and around the world. Congratulations, as well, to Toshimitsu Motegi on continuing in his…
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Secretary Esper's Speech at RAND - China
"Today, in this era of great power competition, the Department of Defense has prioritized China then Russia, as our top strategic competitors. These revisionist powers are using predatory economics, political subversion, and military force in an attempt to shift the balance of power in their favor, and often at the expense of others.
China for example is exerting its malign influence through its “One-Belt, One-Road” Initiative. This campaign has left weaker nations with crushing debt, forcing them to take their economic relief at the expense…