East Asia and the Pacific

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State The United States congratulates the people and government of Mongolia for their successful presidential election on June 9, the eighth such election since Mongolia’s peaceful democratic revolution in 1990. We commend Mongolia for its commitment to democracy, and we are proud to be Mongolia’s “third neighbor” and strategic partner. We look forward to working with President-elect Khurelsukh to continue building on that partnership and strengthening our shared democratic values and Mongolia’s sovereignty and independence.

Office of the Spokesperson On the occasion of World Ocean Week, the United States is pleased to announce it will partner with Palau on the next Our Ocean Conference, planned for early 2022 in Koror, Palau. All life on this planet depends on a healthy ocean.  It regulates our climate and weather, generates half our oxygen, and provides food and livelihoods for billions of people.  The Our Ocean Conference is a pivotal moment to spur global ocean action.  It is critical to work together with partners around the globe to mobilize commitments to advance sustainable fishing, promote marine protected areas, combat ocean plastic pollution, support maritime security, foster a blue economy, and create an ocean resilient to climate impacts. It is important to note that the climate crisis is an ocean crisis.  Greenhouse gas pollution is having profound and dire impacts on the ocean.  To protect the ocean, we as a global community must keep the goals of the Paris Agreement within reach.  The ocean plays a vital role in our efforts to tackle the climate crisis, from reducing shipping emissions, to scaling up offshore renewable energy, to protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems that store carbon and protect coastlines – hence preserving resources that provide us life and livelihoods. We look forward to working together with countries and other partners worldwide to ensure that the seventh Our Ocean Conference carries forward the momentum on “ocean and climate action” after November’s U.N. climate conference (COP26) and brings forward meaningful and actionable commitments to create a future that protects our ocean, our planet, and our people. For press inquiries, contact [email protected]

Office of the Spokesperson The text of the following statement was released by the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Japan. Begin Text: The United States and Japan held the first Japan-U.S. Clean Energy Partnership (JUCEP) meeting on June 10, chaired by the U.S. Department of State and the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. At the April 16, 2021, U.S.-Japan Summit Meeting between President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide, the United States and Japan launched the U.S.-Japan Climate Partnership  and the U.S.-Japan Competitiveness and Resilience (CoRe) Partnership .  The United States and Japan shared the view that U.S.-Japan cooperation will contribute to green growth, advance our shared climate goals under the Paris Agreement, and help achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions globally by 2050. To support the objectives of these two Partnerships, the United States and Japan established JUCEP to support countries in the Indo-Pacific and around the world to accelerate their decarbonization efforts while achieving energy security and sustainable growth by deploying clean, affordable and secure energy technologies.  JUCEP will also promote open, competitive, and transparent energy markets in line with the vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific and will support partners in the Indo-Pacific to accelerate integrating clean energy into modernized electricity grid infrastructure while developing technology to decarbonize the energy system. The United States and Japan will focus JUCEP cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to: (1) Address climate change – which has become a global crisis and is more urgent than ever; (2) Support competitive energy markets, which are indispensable to ensuring a clean, secure and sustainable energy supply; (3) Facilitate universal access to affordable, clean, and reliable energy needed to help eradicate poverty, reduce health and environmental impacts of fossil fuel use, drive economic growth and recovery, as well as reinforce global energy security; and (4) Engage Indo-Pacific partners to encourage rapid deployment of clean energy and drive the decarbonization of their economies, reflecting the principles of the Climate Partnership, by accelerating diverse, ambitious, and realistic transition paths towards net zero emissions. The United States and Japan will leverage the vitality of the private sector to achieve the above objectives by advancing tangible energy projects and innovative technologies.  Activities under JUCEP will engage private sector and government experts in the United States and Japan, and regional partners in the Indo-Pacific and around the world to identify and increase commercial opportunities and enhance investment environments that promote decarbonization and support a realistic and ambitious energy transition and access.  JUCEP will mobilize private sector engagement and catalyze all available policy implementation tools from both countries in a whole of government approach, with the goal to accelerate sustainable, private sector-led clean energy investment and exports from the United States and Japan, and with a view to achieving sustainable development and energy security in the Indo-Pacific. Key cooperation areas under JUCEP include, but are not limited to: (1) Renewable Energy:  Geothermal, wind, solar, hydropower, and critical minerals. (2) Power Grid Modernization:  Grid stability, energy management technology including battery storage, and transmission. (3) Nuclear Energy:  Advanced technologies such as small modular reactors and light water reactors. (4) Decarbonization Technologies:  CCUS/Carbon recycling and other abatement technologies, as well as advanced fuels like ammonia, hydrogen, and others. Participants who gathered at the first JUCEP meeting to discuss coordinating support for regional partners included representatives from the U.S. Department of State, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, Department of Treasury, U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, Export-Import Bank, U.S. Trade and Development Agency, and United States Agency for International Development, as well as the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Nippon Export and Investment Insurance, Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation, Japan International Cooperation Agency, and New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. End text.

Office of the Spokesperson The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone with Chinese Communist Party Politburo Member and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi today. Secretary Blinken and Director Yang discussed the United States’ comprehensive DPRK policy review, focusing on the need for the United States and the PRC to work together for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. Secretary Blinken and Director Yang continued discussions on shared global challenges, including Iran, Burma, and the climate crisis. Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic, the Secretary stressed the importance of cooperation and transparency regarding the origin of the virus, including the need for WHO Phase 2 expert-led studies in China. The Secretary underscored U.S. concern over the deterioration of democratic norms in Hong Kong and the ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. He also called on Beijing to cease its pressure campaign against Taiwan and peacefully resolve cross-Strait issues. The Secretary raised several cases of U.S. and Canadian citizens subject to arbitrary detention and exit bans in China and called for the immediate release of those wrongfully detained.

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of the Republic of the Philippines as you celebrate your independence day on June 12. This year marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between our two countries and the 70th anniversary of the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty.  Our long and deeply interwoven history stands as a strong foundation for our enduring alliance, and our close relationship is rooted in our shared interests and rich people-to-people ties.  Together, as friends, allies, and partners, our two countries will strive to ensure a more peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. We look forward to deepening our friendship and cooperation for many years to come.

Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Today, Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met Republic of Korea Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun in Washington.  The Deputy Secretary and the Vice Foreign Minister reaffirmed the U.S.-ROK Alliance as the linchpin of peace, security, and prosperity in Northeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and beyond.  Deputy Secretary Sherman and Vice Foreign Minister Choi highlighted U.S.-ROK cooperation on shared priorities, including addressing the climate crisis, building relations and addressing challenges in the Indo-Pacific, strengthening cooperation on global health and secure supply chains, and working toward the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.  They discussed efforts to combat COVID-19 through expanding vaccine production and related supplies and manufacturing innovations.  The Deputy Secretary and the Vice Foreign Minister also reaffirmed the importance of restoring Burma’s path to democracy and stressed that cooperation between and among the United States, the ROK, and Japan is essential to solving global challenges of today and the future.

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State Tomorrow marks the 32nd anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre.  Named after the nearby Gate of Heavenly Peace, the square is instead synonymous with the brutal actions by the Government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) in 1989 to silence tens of thousands of individuals advocating to have a say in their government and exercise their human rights and fundamental freedoms. These individuals had a noble and simple request: Recognize and respect our human rights, which are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  Instead of meeting this request with dignity and open debate, PRC authorities responded with violence.  The courage of the brave individuals who stood shoulder-to-shoulder on June 4 reminds us that we must never stop seeking transparency on the events of that day, including a full accounting of all those killed, detained, or missing. The Tiananmen demonstrations are echoed in the struggle for democracy and freedom in Hong Kong, where a planned vigil to commemorate the massacre in Tiananmen Square was banned by local authorities. The United States will continue to stand with the people of China as they demand that their government respect universal human rights.  We honor the sacrifices of those killed 32 years ago, and the brave activists who carry on their efforts today in the face of ongoing government repression.

Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son.  Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Son celebrated the strength of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership and reaffirmed our shared commitment to protecting and preserving the rules-based order in the South China Sea.  The Secretary and the Foreign Minister also discussed ongoing concerns regarding the military coup in Burma and commitments to addressing climate change and tackling COVID-19.  Secretary Blinken emphasized U.S. commitment to ASEAN centrality, the Mekong-U.S. Partnership, and support of a strong, prosperous, and independent Vietnam that respects human rights and the rule of law.

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State On behalf of the United States of America, I would like to extend our congratulations on the celebration of Timor-Leste’s Restoration of Independence Day.  During the 19 years since independence has been restored, Timor-Leste has made enormous progress to build democratic institutions and ensure human rights are upheld.  The United States has been proud to partner with Timor-Leste since its independence and we look forward to advancing and strengthening our strong bilateral relationship. Our relationship maintains shared values of mutual respect, friendship, and cooperation. These shared values provide the foundation for continued collaboration to promote democracy, human rights, and improving the lives of the Timorese people.  While the past year has presented challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, I am confident that the spirit of cooperation between Timor-Leste and the United States will endure and that brighter days are ahead for both of our countries. As a friend and partner, the United States congratulates the people of Timor-Leste on your Restoration of Independence Day.

Office of the Spokesperson The United States and the Republic of Korea committed to expanding cooperation in Southeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific in support of ASEAN centrality and the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific during the first U.S.-ROK Dialogue on ASEAN and Southeast Asia on May 12.  State Department Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Ambassador Atul Keshap and Director-General for ASEAN and Southeast Asian Affairs of the Republic of Korea Jae-kyung Park co-chaired the virtual Dialogue.  Representatives from USAID and the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, as well as the ROK Ministry of Finance and ROK Ministry of National Defence also joined the discussion. Ambassador Keshap and Director-General Park discussed expanding cooperation in Southeast Asia to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through mobilizing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, confronting climate change, upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, and peaceful resolution of disputes. They also discussed respect for international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in the South China Sea, advancing digital innovation and smart cities, addressing cyber issues, tackling cross-border challenges across the Mekong River Basin, and expanding cooperation in the maritime domain. The United States and the Republic of Korea expressed support for ASEAN’s vital role in returning Burma to the path of democracy, called on Burma’s military to immediately end and refrain from violence and release all those unjustly detained, and emphasized the need for ASEAN to hold Burma’s military accountable for implementing the five-point consensus endorsed by ASEAN leaders on April 24. The meeting was part of a U.S.-ROK dialogue series on the U.S. vision for the Indo-Pacific and the Republic of Korea’s New Southern Policy.