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.

Methodology

All Posts

Secretary Esper's Remarks to Senator Josh Hawley (MO) - China and Taiwan

Secretary Pompeo's Remarks on Gross Violations of Human Rights of Burmese Military Officials

"Today, the Department of State is publicly designating the following individuals and their immediate family members for the named individuals’ responsibility for gross human rights violations, including in extrajudicial killings in northern Rakhine State, Burma, during the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya:

  • Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing
  • Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win
  • Brigadier General Than Oo
  • Brigadier General Aung Aung

These designations are made under Section 7031(c) of the FY 2019 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Act. Section 7031(c) provides that, in cases where there is credible information that…

Secretary Esper's Remarks to Senator Martha McSally (AZ) - China

Secretary Esper's Opening Remarks During Secretary of Defense Confirmation Hearing - China

Secretary Esper's Remarks to Senator Deb Fischer (NE) - China

Secretary Esper's Remarks to Senator David Perdue (GA) - China

President Trump's Remarks on Trade with China

Remarks by President Trump at the 3rd Annual Made in America Product Showcase - China

"Previous administrations allowed foreign countries to steal our jobs and plunder our wealth. They stole our wealth. They stole so much, and it was allowed to go on so long. But it’s not going on any longer. You take a look at what’s happening. Look at today’s front page in the Wall Street Journal. You’ll see where China has had its worst year in 27 years. And I’m not looking for that. But we had a deal with China, and they decided not to make…

Secretary Pompeo's Interview With Sean Hannity of The Sean Hannity Show - North Korea and China

"QUESTION: What updates can you give us in terms of China and the trade negotiations, and is there any update with North Korea and Kim Jong-un?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So on North Korea, the President’s visit to North Korea, where he went across into North Korea for the first time a president had done that, has given us another chance to sit down with them and have another conversation. And I hope the North Koreans will come to the table with ideas that they didn’t have…

Remarks by President Trump on Supporting the Passage of the U.S-Mexico-Canada Agreement - China

"For years, politicians let China take the crown jewels out of our country. My administration has taken the toughest-ever stance to stop these incredible abuses. [...]

And I didn’t blame China. I didn’t blame all of these countries — Mexico. Mexico, they took 30 percent of our automobile business. I don’t know if you know that or not. They have plants the likes of which you’ve never seen before. They took 30 percent — probably more than that — of our automobile — I don’t blame…

Remarks by President Trump at the Presidential Social Media Summit - China

"I, for a while, have said that the thing that’s going to bring us together is great success. Now we have tremendous success — greater than we’ve ever had before. I mean, our country picked up trillions of dollars in value and worth. China has gone down trillions of dollars. The tariffs have hurt them. I don’t want to hurt them, but I want to give us a fair playing field. But China has gone down trillions. We’ve gone up tril- — not billions, trillions…