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 Keynote Address at the Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom - Myanmar [Burma] and China
"In Burma, each of you has had the chance to hear how the military has brutalized and persecuted the Rohingya, the large majority of whom are Muslim. On Tuesday, the United States announced visa restrictions on the two highest-ranking Burmese military commanders and two other senior military figures, each of them for having been involved in these very atrocities. It’s the first time any country has taken public action against the Burmese military’s highest-ranking leaders.
Targeting the Rohingya is just one part of the military’s…
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Remarks by Vice President Pence at the 2nd Annual Religious Freedom Ministerial - Myanmar [Burma], China, and North Korea
"We’re also standing up for the persecuted Rohingya people in Burma. While that conflict has fallen along ethnic lines, we cannot ignore the rise of militant Buddhism against Muslim and Christian minorities that’s taken place. A brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya has forced more than 700,000 to flee across the border to Bangladesh. And though the United States has repeatedly urged the Burmese government to hold accountable all those responsible, the government has continued to imprison and harass innocent men and women.
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Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo With David Brody of CBN-TV - China and North Korea
"QUESTION: No surprise that China is not here. What is the message to China? You have to work with them on a lot of different issues – trade and others. That Muslim community, the Uighur Muslim community up in China persecuted. What’s the message to China especially as it relates to this event?
SECRETARY POMPEO: So the message is really simple. It’s a message that’s no different than that what we share with other countries around the world that aren’t treating every human being with…
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Secretary Pompeo With Hugh Hewitt of the Hugh Hewitt Show - China and Myanmar [Burma]
"QUESTION: Now it seems to me that it’s a very difficult order, but if you could persuade your counterparts in the PRC and Russia that religious freedom practiced by all but the extremes of any faith – and every faith has extremes and they cannot be allowed to define the religion for which they appear to speak – but religious liberty is actually a stabilizing force in any country that embraces genuine, broad spectrum religious liberty. Have you made that argument to President Xi or…
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Readout of Vice President Mike Pence’s Meeting with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand
"Vice President Pence met yesterday with Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters of New Zealand. Vice President Pence expressed his solidarity on behalf of the American people with the people of New Zealand and their leaders for their response to the terror attacks at the two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand in March. The Vice President and the Deputy Prime Minister also discussed our shared commitment to the Pacific Islands nations and our trade relationship."
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Remarks by President Trump in Cabinet Meeting - North Korea
"I could possibly say a couple of things about North Korea. When I took over — when I became President, North Korea was ready to go to war. We were, I think, headed to a war. It would have been very quickly, too. It would have been a very bad war, a very rough war. But I believe we were headed in that one direction. There was no communication. There was no talk. There were nuclear weapons being — and nuclear everything being tested. Constantly…
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Secretary Pompeo's Statement on The New Government of the Kingdom of Thailand
"The United States looks forward to working with the newly formed Royal Thai government to deepen the alliance and partnership between our two nations, building upon over two centuries of friendship between our people. We support transparency and good governance around the world and will continue to work with the Thai people and the Royal Thai government to this end.
The U.S.-Thailand alliance remains strong, and we continue to support Thailand’s role as a regional leader, including its chairmanship of ASEAN this year. Our alliance…
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Remarks by President Trump in Cabinet Meeting - China
"You read yesterday where China is down very substantially. They’re having the worst year they’ve had in 27 years. I don’t want to have them have bad years. But we made a deal and they broke the deal on me. The deal was done. It was practically done. It was just like a very short period of time, we would’ve had it finished. And they broke the deal. They decided they didn’t want to do the things that they had agreed to. So I said…