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’s Call with Australian Prime Minister Morrison
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke yesterday with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. During the call, the Secretary and the Prime Minister affirmed the unbreakable bond that exists between the United States and Australia and committed to continue working together to deepen and broaden the U.S.-Australia Alliance. Secretary Pompeo thanked Prime Minister Morrison for his steadfast support in promoting our shared values of democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and our common strategic interests, even in the face of economic threats from the…
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Joint Statement on Hong Kong
"The text of the following statement was released by the Governments of the United States of America, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
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We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, underscore our serious concern at the mass arrests of 55 politicians and activists in Hong Kong for subversion under the National Security Law.
The National Security Law is a clear breach of the Sino-British Joint Declaration and undermines the ‘One Country, Two…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Australian Foreign Minister Payne
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne. During the call, Secretary Pompeo and the Foreign Minister Payne reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-Australia Alliance, which is based on shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, common strategic interests, and our enduring “mateship.” The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed the growing importance of the Quad’s collective efforts to advance a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region, and our ongoing coordination to counter the…
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Joint Statement on Hong Kong
"We, the Foreign Ministers of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, and the United States Secretary of State, reiterate our serious concern regarding China’s imposition of new rules to disqualify elected legislators in Hong Kong. Following the imposition of the National Security Law and postponement of September’s Legislative Council elections, this decision further undermines Hong Kong’s high degree of autonomy and rights and freedoms.
China’s action is a clear breach of its international obligations under the legally binding, UN-registered Sino-British Joint Declaration. It…
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Secretary Pompeo With Hugh Hewitt of The Hugh Hewitt Show - Indo-Pacific
"QUESTION: Now, Mr. Secretary, I want to turn to the Chinese Communist Party and to the conservative realism about it that you and President Trump have articulated and defended. Do we expect, short term, more sanctions in December and January on entities like Huawei?
SECRETARY POMPEO: So I don’t want to get out in front of what decisions the President will make, but make no mistake about the work that we’re doing to counter the threat from the Chinese Communist Party continues. So there’s still…
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Secretary Pompeo With Larry O’Connor of the Larry O’Connor Show - China
"QUESTION: Boy, there’s a lot going on in the news, and I know that you have been a busy man. I guess Secretary of State means you’re going to be traveling the world. But you’ve been very busy in the last week specifically with a trip to Japan, and that, of course, continues your focus on the Chinese Communist Party. Talk to me about what happened in Japan and where we stand right now with the Communist Party of China.
SECRETARY POMPEO: So it was…
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Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Guy Benson of The Guy Benson Show - China
"QUESTION: Shifting to China now, I saw a series of polls just in the last few days from Pew Research globally that showed huge spikes in negative views of the Chinese Government, the Chinese Communist Party, all around the advanced world. It’s not just Americans. Across the political spectrum. It’s Canadians. It’s Brits. It’s Australians. It’s Indians. It’s a whole host of people from across the world – Japanese as well.
I know that you’ve recently been in Japan. You’ve recently traveled to Europe. You’ve…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Payne
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met with Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne today in Tokyo, Japan on the sidelines of the U.S.-Australia-India-Japan Ministerial (“the Quad”). Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Payne emphasized the importance of the Quad discussions to the promotion of peace, security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific. The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed their shared concerns regarding the People’s Republic of China’s malign activity in the region. Secretary Pompeo thanked Foreign Minister Payne for Australia’s leadership and coordination as a…
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Secretary Pompeo Opening Remarks at Quad Ministerial
"SECRETARY POMPEO: Great, thank you. Good evening, everyone. Foreign Minister Motegi, thank you so much for hosting us, the second meeting of the Quad foreign ministers. I personally appreciate your hospitality. I know my whole team does.
Foreign Minister Payne, Foreign Minister Jaishankar, it’s great to be with you all again. So glad we could all meet here in Tokyo so soon after the new Suga administration has taken office. I’m confident that we can build on the good work of former Prime Minister Abe…
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Secretary Pompeo’s Quad Meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi, Indian Foreign Minister Jaishankar, and Australian Foreign Minister Payne
"Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo met today with Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr. S. Jaishankar, and Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne to reaffirm collective Quad efforts to advance a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific. In regard to responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the participants discussed ways to deepen cooperation to create resilient supply chains, promote transparency, counter disinformation, and advance shared efforts to support a post-pandemic recovery.
The participants also reviewed recent strategic developments across the Indo-Pacific and…
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Secretary of Defense Remarks for the Commemoration of the 75th Anniversary of the End of World War II
"Today, in the face of new challenges to this free and open order, we are working to build an even broader coalition of partners – one that includes both longtime friends and former adversaries – to protect the hard-fought gains of generations past and present…especially in the Pacific. We share an important goal – defending the sacred principles that benefit us all: democracy, liberty, sovereignty, human rights, mutual respect, and the rule of law.
To do so, we continue to forge new partnerships and…