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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Remarks by President Trump and President Xi of the People’s Republic of China Before Bilateral Meeting | Osaka, Japan
"PRESIDENT TRUMP: Thank you very much, Mr. President. We have had a lot of time together, and we’ve become friends. My trip to Beijing with my family was one of the most incredible of my life. I’ve seen a culture that rarely would you see. Chinese culture is an incredible culture.
I look forward to working with you. As you know, we’ve had a excellent relationship, but we want to do something that will even it up with respect to trade. I think it’s something…
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Remarks by President Trump in Press Conference | Osaka, Japan - North Korea, China, and Japan
[PRESIDENT TRUMP:] I understand that we may be meeting with Chairman King — Kim. And we’ll find out. We spoke with the people. Kim Jong Un was very receptive. He responded. And so, we’ll see. Because tomorrow we’re going to the DMZ. I said, “While I’m there, I’ll shake his hand.” We get along. There’s been no nuclear tests. There’s been no long-range ballistic tests. Gave us back our hostages, which was great. And a lot of good things are happening over there. [...]
So, with…
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Remarks by President Trump and President Bolsonaro of the Federative Republic of Brazil Before Bilateral Meeting - China
"Q Are you going to ask Brazil to take sides in the trade war with China, President?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, we’re going to have a meeting with President Xi of China tomorrow, as you probably have heard. There seems to be a rumor about that, and we are indeed, and we look forward to it. I think it’ll be productive. And who knows? But I think it’ll productive. At a minimum, it will be productive. We’ll see what happens and what comes out of it.
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Remarks by President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Before Working Breakfast | Osaka, Japan - North Korea and China
"Q Mr. President, will you meet with Kim Jong Un tomorrow at the DMZ?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, I put a — I’ll be going to South Korea. We’re going with President Moon. We were with the President in Japan for a little while, and we spoke. And all I did is put out a feeler if he’d like to meet.
He sent me a very beautiful birthday card. And I just — what I did is — and he — I guess he got my…
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Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi of India Before Bilateral Meeting - India and China
"PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, thank you very much, Mr. Prime Minister. And we’ve become great friends, and our countries have never been closer. I can say that with surety. And we work together in many ways, including military. But we certainly work together on trade, and we’ll be discussing trade today.
You did indeed have a landslide election. That was a great election. Seventy-two percent, as I understand it. And that, in the United States, would be called a very big victory. And you deserve it…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting With Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono
"Secretary Michael R. Pompeo met today with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono in Osaka, Japan to discuss our close alliance and cooperation on pressing regional and security issues. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Kono reaffirmed our commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the D.P.R.K., our mutual commitment to regional security, and to continue working closely together to address common challenges in the Indo-Pacific."
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Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Abe of Japan Before Bilateral Meeting
"PRESIDENT TRUMP: Well, thank you very much, Shinzo. It’s an honor. And we just left Japan, and now I’m back. (Laughter.) That was a quick trip, and it was a great honor to be your first guest. And meeting the Emperor and the Emperor’s family was, really, a very special thing on behalf of the United States.
And I can say we very much appreciate the courtesies — giving out the World Championship to the great sumo wrestler. (Laughter.) He was — you would not…
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Remarks by President Trump Before Marine One Departure - China and North Korea
"Q Are you confident that you will reach a trade deal with China?
THE PRESIDENT: There’s a possibility. I’m meeting with Russia. I’m meeting with China. I’m meeting with many countries. We’re meeting with many countries. We have many things — we’ve been ripped off by everybody over the years. They’re not ripping us off anymore. A big difference right now.
We’re meeting with China. Just so you know, China has been paying us billions and billions of dollars. Until I got here, they never…
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Remarks by President Trump and Prime Minister Morrison of Australia in Working Dinner
"Q Mr. President, you talk about “America first” a lot. Do you recognize that, for many of your allies, sometimes it’s seen as “America alone” because it has adverse impacts on countries like Japan and Australia — like on trade, for example?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: Yeah, well, I think I can say very easily that we’ve been very good to our allies. We work with our allies. We take care of our allies. Generally speaking, I’ve inherited massive trade deficits with our allies. And we even…