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On the Postponement of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Elections

08/01/2020

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On the Postponement of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Elections

08/01/2020 10:45 PM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

The United States condemns the Hong Kong government’s decision to postpone by one year upcoming Legislative Council elections originally scheduled for September 6. There is no valid reason for such a lengthy delay. It is likely, therefore, that Hong Kong will never again be able to vote – for anything or anyone. This regrettable action confirms that Beijing has no intention of upholding the commitments it made to the Hong Kong people and the United Kingdom under the Sino-British Joint Declaration, a UN-registered treaty, and the Basic Law.

For decades, the Hong Kong people have repeatedly demonstrated their desire and ability to hold free and fair elections. We urge Hong Kong authorities to reconsider their decision. The elections should be held as close to the September 6 date as possible and in a manner that reflects the will and aspirations of the Hong Kong people. If they aren’t, then regrettably Hong Kong will continue its march toward becoming just another Communist-run city in China.

On the Postponement of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Elections

08/01/2020

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On the Postponement of Hong Kong’s Legislative Council Elections

08/01/2020 10:45 PM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

On China’s Predatory Fishing Practices in the Galápagos

08/02/2020

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On China’s Predatory Fishing Practices in the Galápagos

08/02/2020 08:22 AM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

The People’s Republic of China subsidizes the world’s largest commercial fishing fleet, which routinely violates the sovereign rights and jurisdiction of coastal states, fishes without permission, and overfishes licensing agreements. Given this unfortunate record of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, rule-breaking, and willful environmental degradation, it is more important than ever that the international community stands together for the rule of law and insists on better environmental stewardship from Beijing.

The Ecuadorian government has done just that in raising the alarm about the hundreds of PRC-flagged vessels fishing near Ecuador’s important Galápagos marine reserve and harvesting endangered sharks for their fins, along with many other protected species. We firmly support Ecuador’s efforts to ensure PRC-flagged vessels do not engage in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and stand with States whose economies and natural resources are threatened by PRC-flagged vessels’ disregard for the rule of law and responsible fishing practices.

On China’s Predatory Fishing Practices in the Galápagos

08/02/2020

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On China’s Predatory Fishing Practices in the Galápagos

08/02/2020 08:22 AM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Maria Bartiromo of Fox News Sunday Morning Futures

08/02/2020

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Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Maria Bartiromo of Fox News Sunday Morning Futures

08/02/2020 01:34 PM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

QUESTION: Joining me right now with his reaction and the state of affairs right now between the U.S. and China is U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Mr. Secretary, it’s great to have you this morning. Thanks very much for being here.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Maria, it’s great to be with you this morning on this important topic.

QUESTION: So I want to start with the U.S. sanctioning the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corporation and two of its officials for their connection to the human rights abuses in Xinjiang. Tell us about this company, its reach, why these sanctions are important in terms of moving the needle on what’s taking place.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, the risk to the people in that region has been great. I’ve talked about this. This is the greatest human rights violation of this century to date. And what we have attempted to do is make clear to China, if you want to participate on the world stage, you can’t engage in behavior like this. So we’ve begun to impose sanctions on the individuals and businesses involved in this.

The most recent set of sanctions put out by the Department of Treasury will put the businesses operating there on notice they’ve got to change their behavior, they’ve got to stop using slave labor, they’ve got to stop participating in these systems that have been connected to forced sterilizations, forced abortions. These are terrible, terrible things that are taking place there, and we’re going to impose real costs on those businesses.

This company is involved in the cotton trade and so has deep connectivity to Western businesses, including those in the United States. And we’ve been very clear: We’ve told U.S. businesses to take a real, deep look into their supply chains. I don’t think companies – some brand names here in America – want to be connected to what’s taking place there.

QUESTION: Well, we mentioned the NBA. We were showing video as you were talking. This video was shot in 2018, but it clearly shows the Uyghurs being lined up, blindfolded in some cases, being taken somewhere. Do American companies not understand what has taken place here; for example, the NBA, other companies that want to do a deal? I want to get to Microsoft wanting to acquire TikTok in a moment. But do you think corporations are getting the national security issues that you have laid out over the last couple of years?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Maria, I think they are starting to become more aware of it, to be awakened to the challenges this presents to their brand, to their company, to their supply chain. I think they’re starting to see that.

But as we’ve discussed before, I think all across the world for an awful long time we didn’t recognize the threats posed to freedom, the authoritarian nature of the regime there, and so we – we let things go on that we shouldn’t. I am very hopeful these businesses will evaluate what’s going on and then make the right decisions for their businesses. I am confident that they will.

QUESTION: We have news this morning that Microsoft has put on pause its plans to acquire TikTok, the U.S. operations of this video-sharing app. Peter Navarro was with us last week on this program. Here’s what he said about TikTok. I’ve got get your take on this very popular app for young people. Here’s Peter Navarro:

“What the American people have to understand is all the data that goes into those mobile apps that kids have so much fun with and seem so convenient, it goes right to servers in China, right to the Chinese military, the Chinese Communist Party, and the agencies which want to steal our intellectual property. Those apps can be used to steal personal and financial information, for blackmail and extortion. They can used to steal business intellectual property and proprietary secrets.”

What happened with TikTok, Secretary?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, here’s what I hope that the American people will come to recognize: These Chinese software companies doing business in the United States, whether it’s TikTok or WeChat – there are countless more – as Peter Navarro said, are feeding data directly to the Chinese Communist Party, their national security apparatus. It could be their facial recognition pattern. It could be information about their residence, their phone numbers, their friends, who they’re connected to. Those are the issues that President Trump has made clear we’re going to take care of. These are true national security issues. They are true privacy issues for the American people.

And for a long time, a long time, the United States just said, well goodness, if we’re having fun with it or if a company can make money off of it, we’re going to permit that to happen. President Trump has said enough and we’re going to fix it. And so he will take action in the coming days with respect to a broad array of national security risks that are presented by software connected to the Chinese Communist Party.

QUESTION: I mean, even if Microsoft were to acquire the U.S. assets of TikTok, can you really believe that China’s surveillance is gone from U.S. operations of TikTok?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Maria, I promise you, the President, when he makes his decision, will make sure that everything we have done drives us as close to zero risk for the American people. That’s the mission set that he laid out for all of us when we get – we began to evaluate this now several months back. We’re closing in on a solution, and I think you’ll see the President’s announcement shortly.

QUESTION: Secretary, I want to ask you about FBI Director Christopher Wray speaking to the Senate Intel Committee in the last week, and he warned about China’s increased capability to interfere in U.S. elections, saying that – these were classified hearings at the Senate Intel Committee to this week – saying that China has developed an ability to interfere with local elections and target members of Congress to influence China policy. What can you tell us?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, Maria, I don’t want to say much more than you just described there. The rest of the information is classified. But make no mistake about it – I talked about this back in February to the National Governors Association – the Chinese Communist Party – and you saw this with our closure of the consulate in Houston – is running espionage operations inside the United States and attempting deep-influence targeting of American business leaders, of American congressmen, of city council members. We saw it happen up to a state senator in Wisconsin.

This is a deep effort to conduct influence operations to undermine American democracy and put our nation at risk. This administration, President Trump – for the first time – has said this is enough of this, we’re going to fix this, and has given us all the guidance. And you’ve seen us act on it, whether it was what we did to the consulate with Houston; you saw the FBI indict several PLA members who were studying here in the United States engaged in activity that was clearly unlawful. We’re taking seriously this threat. We’re going to protect the American people from these Chinese influence operations.

QUESTION: Well, I mean, this week Dianne Feinstein praised China as a respectable nation, she said. Why do some in Congress not say the same thing that you’ve been saying, that this administration has been communicating? There doesn’t seem to be an all-out agreement within the Congress on this?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Maria, I saw the statement from Senator Feinstein. I found it perplexing. I saw statements from senior American CEOs of the big tech companies this week say they hadn’t heard or seen about intellectual property theft in the United States. That’s crazy talk.

Here’s the good news. The good news is we are getting nearly every member of Congress aligned along the administration’s policies on China. When we voted about Hong Kong freedom, there were over 400 votes in the House and nearly every vote in the Senate; the same with respect to what’s taking place in western China, the human rights violations.

I think the tide is turning. I think not only here in the United States but all across the world the threat from the Chinese Communist Party is becoming clearer and clearer, and nations that are likeminded all across the world are beginning to come together to rebalance, to push back against this, to protect our freedom and democracy.

I talked at the Nixon Library about this being a battle not between the United States and China but between authoritarianism and freedom. That’s the fight the world needs to be engaged in, and I hope we get every member of Congress onboard on the side of the freedom.

QUESTION: I mean, I was particularly struck by Dianne Feinstein, because didn’t she have a driver for 20 years that we ended up finding out was a Chinese spy?

SECRETARY POMPEO: We did. You’ll recall she meets with some frequency with Foreign Minister Zarif there, too. There’s something not quite right.

QUESTION: Mm-hmm.

SECRETARY POMPEO: I mean, and this is not —

QUESTION: Well, we’ll certainly keep watching that. Yes.

SECRETARY POMPEO: This is not consistent with America’s national security in either case. These are adversaries that intend harm for the citizens of her state of California, and I wish that she would not engage in this kind of rhetoric and these kind of meetings that undermine Americans’ efforts.

QUESTION: Yeah, there seems to be a new angle here, and that is the Chinese communist government trying to compromise certain Democrat members of Congress who are against President Trump. We’ll keep watching that.

I want to ask you about how China is using the new security law and what has taken place in Hong Kong now, Secretary, because Hong Kong is now delaying election – its election for a year. They’re talking about COVID-19 being the issue. Your reaction.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, COVID-19 is not the reason for the delay in the election. The reason for the delay – there was scheduled to be an election in Hong Kong on September 6th. The reason for the delay is that the Chinese Communist Party candidates would be crushed, and the freedom-loving people of Hong Kong would prevail, and the leadership in Beijing simply can’t permit that to happen.

Look, this is part of what we’re seeing happen all across the threat from the Chinese Communist Party: increased denial of freedom for people in their own country; and then extending that now to people outside of their country. That national security law can be applied to people all across the world. It has extraterritorial provisions in it saying that someone who so much as speaks against freedom in Hong Kong has violated the national security law and is under threat from the Chinese Communist Party. This is a new and increased scope, and it’s the kind of thing we’ve seen as the direction of travel from the Chinese Communist Party under General Secretary Xi.

QUESTION: So, I mean, do you expect an election ever in Hong Kong? I mean, in that speech you referred to at the Nixon Library, you said that we are seeing the tide turn. I mean, you just said that a lot of our allies understand the threat. Do you believe the U.S. has alliances here? I mean, we know that India has banned those 59 apps. We know that the UK has come around in terms of not using Huawei for its 5G. We know what’s happened in the South China Sea. What about Western Europe? What about Spain and Germany and Italy? Do you feel you’ve got the support from the rest of the world?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, it’s better than it was six months and increasing. I think the whole world sees this. It’s not because America asks these countries to engage in activity that pushes back against the Chinese Communist Party that they ought to do it. They ought to do it because it’s in their nation’s sovereign best interest to do so. And we’re seeing it, whether it’s in the Czech Republic or in Malaysia, in Vietnam.

QUESTION: Right.

SECRETARY POMPEO: All across the world countries are coming to understand the challenges that the Chinese Communist Party presents and that the United States will be there, that the United States will be there to lead this push to ensure that the next century remains a free and democratic century, not one that is governed by the rules of the road laid down by this communist regime.

QUESTION: Secretary, I want to move on to Iran because now we understand that Beijing is set to be in the final stages of approving a $400 billion economic and security deal with Tehran. In addition to the massive infrastructure investments, Forbes is reporting that this agreement is closer cooperation on defense and intelligence sharing. What are the implications, Secretary?

SECRETARY POMPEO: Well, it shouldn’t surprise you that regimes that don’t respect freedom at home and foment national security problems abroad would want to join hands. We will be sure to enforce all the provisions we have, all the sanctions we have on the Islamic Republic of Iran, applied to the Chinese Communist Party and their businesses and state-owned enterprises as well.

And I think countries in the Middle East should see this for what it is as well. China’s entry into Iran will destabilize the Middle East. It’ll put Israel at risk. It’ll put the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Emirates at risk as well. Iran remains the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, and to have access to weapons systems and commerce and money flowing from the Chinese Communist Party only compounds that risk for that region.

QUESTION: Should we expect new sanctions against Iran?

SECRETARY POMPEO: So we filed some new sanctions just this Friday. We expanded their – sanctions on their metals programs. And then in October we have a significant provision of the JCPOA that expires, the first major provision to expire. It’ll allow the Chinese and the Russians to sell weapons systems to Iran and then allow Iran to sell those weapons systems and other arms around the world as well.

The United States has been working since 2018 to try and stop this provision from expiring and in the United Nations in just the next handful of days will present a Security Council resolution aimed at doing just that. I hope the whole world can understand that allowing Iran to buy and sell weapons is really, really dangerous.

QUESTION: Yes, of course. Secretary, it’s good to see you this morning. Thanks very much for being here.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you, Maria. Thank you.

It has extraterritorial provisions in it saying that someone who so much as speaks against the denial of freedom in Hong Kong has violated the national security law and is under threat from the Chinese Communist Party.

Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Maria Bartiromo of Fox News Sunday Morning Futures

08/02/2020

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Secretary Michael R. Pompeo With Maria Bartiromo of Fox News Sunday Morning Futures

08/02/2020 01:34 PM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Washington, D.C.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Maria, it’s great to be with you this morning on this important topic.

What happened with TikTok, Secretary?

QUESTION: I mean, even if Microsoft were to acquire the U.S. assets of TikTok, can you really believe that China’s surveillance is gone from U.S. operations of TikTok?

QUESTION: I mean, I was particularly struck by Dianne Feinstein, because didn’t she have a driver for 20 years that we ended up finding out was a Chinese spy?

SECRETARY POMPEO: We did. You’ll recall she meets with some frequency with Foreign Minister Zarif there, too. There’s something not quite right.

QUESTION: Mm-hmm.

SECRETARY POMPEO: I mean, and this is not —

QUESTION: Well, we’ll certainly keep watching that. Yes.

QUESTION: Right.

QUESTION: Should we expect new sanctions against Iran?

QUESTION: Yes, of course. Secretary, it’s good to see you this morning. Thanks very much for being here.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you, Maria. Thank you.

Public Schedule – August 3, 2020

08/02/2020

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Public Schedule – August 3, 2020

08/02/2020 08:54 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

SECRETARY MICHAEL R. POMPEO

Secretary Pompeo attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State.

DEPUTY SECRETARY STEPHEN E. BIEGUN

Deputy Secretary Biegun attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State.

Acting USAID Administrator John Barsa

1:00 p.m. Acting Administrator Barsa meets with Bread for the World President Reverend Eugene Cho at the U.S. Agency for International Development.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS DAVID HALE

Under Secretary Hale attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT KEITH KRACH

Under Secretary Krach attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State.

Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs Marie Royce

12:00 p.m. Assistant Secretary Royce delivers remarks virtually to the USC Public Diplomacy Council’s program “Willis Conover and the International Impact of Jazz,” from the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

Congratulations on Niger’s 60th Independence Day

08/03/2020

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Congratulations on Niger’s 60th Independence Day

08/03/2020 12:01 AM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States Government and the American people, I send my congratulations to the Government of Niger and all Nigeriens on the 60^th anniversary of your independence.

The United States and Niger have stood together in partnership since August 3, 1960, when our first Chargé d’affaires presented his credentials to President Hamani Diori. Niamey’s John F. Kennedy Bridge, completed fifty years ago, remains a lasting symbol of our friendship even as our new United States Embassy compound confirms our commitment to the next 60 years of our vibrant relationship and beyond. We look forward to continuing to work hand in hand to promote democratic values, security, and prosperity for both our countries.

Congratulations on Niger’s 60th Independence Day

08/03/2020

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Congratulations on Niger’s 60th Independence Day

08/03/2020 12:01 AM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

On behalf of the United States Government and the American people, I send my congratulations to the Government of Niger and all Nigeriens on the 60^th anniversary of your independence.

Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudi

08/03/2020

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Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Indonesian Foreign Minister Marsudi

08/03/2020 11:02 AM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown:

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi today about the continued, strong U.S.-Indonesia Strategic Partnership and the two countries’ shared goal of respect for international law in the South China Sea. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Marsudi highlighted the importance of increased public health and economic cooperation to rebuild our economies and keep the region safe.

The New U.S. Policy on UAS Exports Under the MTCR

08/03/2020

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The New U.S. Policy on UAS Exports Under the MTCR

08/03/2020 01:34 PM EDT

Dr. Christopher Ashley Ford, Assistant SecretaryBureau of International Security and Nonproliferation

Hudson Institute

As Delivered

Good afternoon, Rebecca. It’s a pleasure to be back at Hudson Institute, where I myself spent five years as a Senior Fellow. I’m sorry that we are still having to do events like this through video connectivity, so our audience is just a “virtual” one, but I’m glad to have the chance to speak to you.

It’s been some time since I was on the rostrum at Hudson with my colleague Tim Morrison — who was then at the White House but is now a Senior Fellow with Hudson — to talk about U.S. efforts to reform the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). That was back in February of 2019, so what I’d like today is to let you know how that effort has been developing since then.

The problem about which we spoke at that event was that the 1980s-era technological benchmark built into the MTCR Guidelines — which urge a “strong presumption of denial” for exports of “Category I” systems, which are defined as unmanned craft capable of carrying a payload of at least 500 kilograms to a range of at least 300 kilometers — has not held up well. Advances in unmanned aerial systems (UAS), have led to a great explosion in the capabilities and beneficial uses of UAS that technically meet this Category I definition, but which don’t present the kind of nuclear weapon delivery threat that the MTCR was established to help forestall. As applied to many UAS, in other words, the MTCR is in danger of becoming out of date.

With respect to actual missiles and rockets, or the sort of high performance cruise missile that one might actually use to deliver a nuclear weapon, of course, we had – and have – no quarrel with the MTCR standard. Quite to the contrary: we still believe that a strong presumption of denial for transfers of such systems makes eminent sense.

The difficulty came with less capable varieties of UAS, in connection with which the presumption of denial has had the effect of largely shutting MTCR partners out of an important and growing UAS market. Since non-MTCR partners remain free to sell whatever they wish, however, this was not only a net loss for those countries responsible enough to join the MTCR, but also a net loss for the cause of nonproliferation — as the market for such non-threatening UAS was effectively ceded to the least proliferation–responsible international players, who don’t worry about things such as MTCR standards.

This is why, in March 2018, the United States proposed an adjustment to MTCR controls that would carve out a subset of Category I UAS, based on their maximum airspeed, for treatment as if they were Category II systems — thus making these slower, less-threatening systems no longer subject to the “strong presumption of denial.” This reform proposal would have protected what needed to be protected in that important regime, while yet allowing a degree of relaxation for transfers of lower-threat systems in order to permit all of humanity to take better advantage of the myriad ways in which UAS are increasingly used in both governmental and private sector applications.

For more than two years, therefore, we have been promoting this reform initiative in MCTR fora. We have also repeatedly made technical changes and various other adjustments to our reform proposal in response to issues raised and ideas suggested by other MTCR partners.

Nevertheless, the MTCR is a consensus-based organization, in which even a single country can hold things up indefinitely. We are pleased that many of our partners have supported our reform proposal, but thanks to foot-dragging by some, it is not yet possible to amend the MTCR controls by consensus.

We will still keep promoting this reform proposal, for we still feel it represents the right way to update the MTCR regime in the face of technological change and thus save it from obsolescence, while yet preserving what is most important in it and protecting nonproliferation equities.

But as Tim and I signaled at our February 2019 event here at Hudson, the United States isn’t willing to let U.S interests be forever held hostage by consensus decision-making. While we’ll still keep pushing MTCR reform, therefore, we are now announcing a modest adjustment to U.S. national policy as to when the “strong presumption of denial” can be overcome in exporting slower, and thus less threatening, UAS.

The key to the new U.S. policy lies in remembering that a presumption can sometimes be rebutted. A “presumption of denial” is not a prohibition, and it has always been permissible to make Category I transfers when there is a compelling reason to overcome the presumption and such a step is well justified in terms of the nonproliferation factors specified in the MTCR Guidelines.

We are all familiar with this idea in other contexts; presumptions are used in lots of policy areas. Perhaps most famous is the “presumption of innocence” in criminal law — that is, the principle that one should be presumed innocent of wrongdoing until actually proven guilty. As that example makes clear, however, the central feature of any presumption is that it can be overcome. If not, it wouldn’t be a presumption at all, but rather just an ordinary rule.

“Rebuttability,” if you will, is thus inherent in the concept of a presumption. There would be no criminal justice system at all, for example, if the presumption of innocence could not be overcome by appropriate evidence, and it is a central purpose of criminal procedure to provide a way to determine when that has occurred. That’s just one example of how presumptions are used, but the point should be clear: presumptions, by their nature, are things that can be overcome in sufficiently compelling circumstances.

So while observers of the MTCR scene often casually assume that the “strong presumption of denial” for Category I exports is simply a prohibition, it clearly isn’t – and this understanding is built in to the MTCR Guidelines. And so, with our new policy on Category I UAS exports, the United States is now setting forth a careful and balanced approach, within the MTCR Guidelines, that for the first time offers a clear explication of certain circumstances in which the “strong presumption of denial” can be overcome.

This new U.S. policy largely tracks the basic structure of the reform initiative we proposed for the MTCR a couple of years ago, except that we are implementing the MTCR’s “strong presumption of denial” within the national discretion permitted us in the MTCR Guidelines.

Under this new policy, the “strong presumption of denial” for MTCR Category I UAS transfers will be overcome for a subset of unmanned aerial systems with a maximum airspeed of less than 800 kilometers per hour. This policy will change nothing about how we handle faster UAS, which present higher risks for WMD delivery – systems such as cruise missiles, hypersonic aerial vehicles, and advanced unmanned combat aerial vehicles. Those systems will continue to be effectively non-exportable, except perhaps on rare occasions.

Our new approach will merely mean that we will deal with lower-threat, lower-speed UAS more flexibly, as if they were Category II systems.

I should also emphasize that this new policy does not mean that we will subject transfers of these slower, lower-threat systems to a strong presumption of approval; all we are doing is exempting them from the strong presumption of denial. There will be no presumption of approval, and all proposals will be evaluated on their own merits.

Nothing will change, moreover, in the strict U.S. standards that today go into deciding whether or not a transfer should occur. We will continue to approach each transfer on a case-by-case basis as a whole-of-government decision that takes into account all relevant factors and policies, including U.S. national security, nonproliferation, and foreign policy objectives, as well as the recipient country’s capability and willingness to effectively and responsibly use and safeguard U.S.-origin technology.

We will continue our extensive assessments of the risk of controlled items falling into the hands of unauthorized end-users, irresponsible actors, state adversaries, and terrorists. We will continue to evaluate all transfers against the MTCR Guidelines, and to require appropriate end-use and end-user certifications and end-use monitoring. All military UAS transfers will continue to be subject to State Department-led assessments under the Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, as well as to Defense Department-led assessments of technology security, as applicable. And all civil UAS exports will continue to be subject to the Export Administration Regulations.

The United States will continue to abide by its MTCR commitments, including those related to pre-notifying Category I transfers. We will also continue to promote responsible standards of behavior in UAS export and use, such as in the “Joint Declaration for the Export and Subsequent Use of Armed or Strike-Enabled ” and we’ll seek to develop further international standards for the export and use of armed UAS.

It is true that that the best way to proceed would have been to clarify these issues across the entire MTCR regime through adoption of our modest reform proposal there, so that all partners could harmonize approaches around a sensible maximum airspeed threshold. As I indicated, however, at least one MTCR participant seems to have prioritized reflexive opposition to anything the United States proposes over sensible reform of the MTCR Guidelines in the face of technological change. That’s unfortunate for the regime, for unless naysayers change course, the MTCR’s technological standards — set more than three decades ago, in 1987 — will simply become more and more out of date with the passage of time, and stress upon the regime will needlessly increase.

In this context, we’re pleased to be able to take a small step forward on our own, by implementing an analogous reform entirely consistent both with the letter and with the spirit of the MTCR Guidelines. We continue strongly to support the MTCR as an important element of the broader global nonproliferation regime.

Thank you.

Joint Statement of the United States and Ecuador on the Bilateral Energy Dialogue

08/03/2020

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Joint Statement of the United States and Ecuador on the Bilateral Energy Dialogue

08/03/2020 05:31 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following joint statement was issued by the Governments of the United States of America and the Republic of Ecuador.

Begin text:

The Governments of Ecuador and the United States held a virtual bilateral energy dialogue on July 28, 2020.

Head of the U.S. delegation Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources Francis R. Fannon and Ecuadorian Minister of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources René Ortiz discussed mutually beneficial bilateral goals in energy and investment and efforts to strengthen Ecuador’s energy sector.

Assistant Secretary Fannon highlighted collaboration in the electricity and hydrocarbon sectors and commended Ecuador on the significant progress in attracting private investment to its electricity sector, which has been fueled by the government’s adherence to good governance principals.

Minister Ortiz spoke about the difficult but necessary decision to liberalize fuel prices, which will contribute to free market dynamics, mitigate fuel smuggling into Peru and Colombia, and most importantly, facilitate sound fiscal policy. Ortiz emphasized that as the price of oil rebounds, the government will consider more targeted subsidies for the most-needy segments of the population.

The group also discussed how substantial investment in the energy and extractive industries sectors have not always netted the promised returns to the people of Ecuador. Fannon encouraged Ecuador to establish transparent and competitive procurement processes that protect national sovereignty and security, in order to protect the Ecuadorian economy and the well-being of future generations.

Minister Ortiz spoke about the Ecuadorian government’s desire to de-monopolize the energy sector from state-owned companies. In particular, he noted opportunities for private sector investment in the Esmeraldas Refinery upgrade, the Sacha oil field, and the development of an LNG terminal at Monteverde,

Assistant Secretary Fannon discussed his recently launched Energy Resource Governance Initiative (ERGI) which promotes sound mining sector governance and resilient energy mineral supply chains. Fannon invited Ecuador to consider joining ERGI, and highlighted the ERGI toolkit, an online collection of interactive tools across mining governance disciplines that helps the user build capacity in industry-leading practice by highlighting real-world case studies.

Assistant Secretary Fannon expressed the importance of energy as a component of the America Crece agreement the U.S. and Ecuadorian governments signed in February. He looks forward to further engaging under the America Crece MOU, including through a Working Group meeting later this year.

End text.

The Passing of John Hume

08/03/2020

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The Passing of John Hume

08/03/2020 07:01 PM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

The United States is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of John Hume, a leader whose integrity and courage played a profoundly important role in Northern Ireland’s transition from violence to peace.

Throughout his career, John Hume believed that just and lasting political solutions could only be achieved through peaceful means, and as a central architect of the Belfast / Good Friday Agreement, he worked tirelessly to make these aspirations a reality.

Mr. Hume’s influence extended far beyond the shores where he lived. During the darkest days of Northern Ireland’s recent past, he won the friendship and respect of countless Americans. His early and sustained influence in bringing U.S. political and economic support to Northern Ireland cannot be overstated, and this profound partnership and friendship continues today.

Many Americans who care deeply about Northern Ireland will mourn the passing of Mr. Hume, and the extensive contribution that he made to build peace and to strengthen our Transatlantic relations. Our thoughts are with his wife, Pat Hume, and his family at this difficult time.

The Passing of John Hume

08/03/2020

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The Passing of John Hume

08/03/2020 07:01 PM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Singaporean Foreign Minister Balakrishnan

08/03/2020

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Secretary Pompeo’s Call with Singaporean Foreign Minister Balakrishnan

08/03/2020 08:51 PM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

The following is attributable to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Cale Brown:

Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo spoke today with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan. Secretary Pompeo reiterated U.S. support for Southeast Asian states upholding their sovereign rights and interests under international law, and he underscored U.S. opposition to PRC efforts to use coercion to push its unlawful South China Sea maritime claims. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Balakrishnan also discussed the importance of our longstanding partnership and ways to expand our cooperation further, including in ASEAN and its related fora.

Public Schedule – August 4, 2020

08/04/2020

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Public Schedule – August 4, 2020

08/04/2020 08:20 AM EDT

Office of the Spokesperson

***THE DAILY PUBLIC SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE***

SECRETARY MICHAEL R. POMPEO

10:00 a.m. Secretary Pompeo meets virtually with White House Fellows, from the Department of State.
(CLOSED PRESS COVERAGE)

12:45 p.m. Secretary Pompeo has lunch with President Donald Trump, at the White House.
(MEDIA DETERMINED BY THE WHITE HOUSE)

DEPUTY SECRETARY STEPHEN E. BIEGUN

Deputy Secretary Biegun attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR POLITICAL AFFAIRS DAVID HALE

Under Secretary Hale attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State.

UNDER SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH, ENERGY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT KEITH KRACH

Under Secretary Krach attends meetings and briefings, at the Department of State.

On the Chinese Communist Party’s Extra-Territorial Authoritarianism

08/04/2020

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On the Chinese Communist Party’s Extra-Territorial Authoritarianism

08/04/2020 10:27 AM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

The Chinese Communist Party cannot tolerate the free thinking of its own people, and increasingly is trying to extend its reach outside China’s borders. In the latest example, Chinese authorities have reportedly issued arrest warrants for six pro-democracy advocates resident outside of China, including a U.S. citizen. The United States and other free nations will continue to protect our peoples from the long arm of Beijing’s authoritarianism.

On the Chinese Communist Party’s Extra-Territorial Authoritarianism

08/04/2020

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On the Chinese Communist Party’s Extra-Territorial Authoritarianism

08/04/2020 10:27 AM EDT

Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary of State

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