This morning, early, I had the chance to drive through Arlington Cemetery, and as we approach

Memorial Day Weekend, I want to reflect on the sacrifices of our uniformed military who

have given their lives in the cause of freedom.

As Secretary of State and an Army veteran, I spend all my days working to use American

diplomatic power to secure freedom without putting our servicemembers in harm's way.

And I want to recognize and thank the families who have lost loved ones in service to our

country for their sacrifices, too, from Lexington to Leyte Gulf, from Valley Forge to the Ia

Drang Valley, and on all the other fields of battle.

I hope every American will reflect on the exceptional nation for which these warriors

fought and died so that we can live and enjoy the fruits of this great country.

I want to begin today with a few observations on China, because the media's focus on the

current pandemic risks missing the bigger picture of the challenge that's presented

by the Chinese Communist Party.

First, basic facts.

China's been ruled by a brutal, authoritarian regime, a communist regime since 1949.

For several decades, we thought the regime would become more like us through trade, scientific

exchanges, diplomatic outreach, letting them in the WTO as a developing nation.

That didn't happen.

We greatly underestimated the degree to which Beijing is ideologically and politically hostile

to free nations.

The whole world is waking up to that fact.

Pew reported – I think it was this past week – that 66% of Americans have an unfavorable

view of China.

That is a result of the Chinese Communist Party's choices, which are influenced by

the nature of the regime.

And the nature of that regime is not new.

Second point on the bigger picture: The Chinese Communist Party's response to the COVID-19

outbreak in Wuhan have accelerated our more realistic understanding of communist China.

The Party chose to destroy live virus samples instead of sharing them or asking us to help

secure them.

The People's Liberation Army has claimed more features in the South China Sea's international

waters, sank a Vietnamese fishing boat, threatened a Malaysian energy prospector, and declared

a unilateral fishing ban.

The United States condemns these unlawful acts.

The Chinese Communist Party chose to threaten Australia with economic retribution for the

simple act of asking for an independent inquiry into the origins of the virus.

It's not right.

We stand with Australia and the more than 120 nations now who have taken up the American

call for an inquiry into the origins of the virus, so we can understand what went wrong

and save lives now, and in the future.

The Chinese Communist Party also chose to pressure the World Health Organization's

director-general into excluding Taiwan from this week's World Health Assembly in Geneva.

I understand that Dr. Tedros's unusually close ties to Beijing started long before

this current pandemic, and that's deeply troubling.

President Xi claimed this week that China has acted “with openness, transparency,

and responsibility.”

I wish it were so.

It's been 142 days since doctors at Wuhan Central Hospital first started sharing information

about a SARS-like virus.

And yet, today, as we all sit here this morning, Beijing continues to deny investigators access

to relevant facilities, to withhold live virus samples, to censor discussion of the pandemic

within China, and much, much more.

If the Chinese Communist Party wants to demonstrate real openness, real transparency, it could

easily hold press conferences, like this very press conference, and allow reporters to ask

him anything that they would like.

Third: China's contributions to fighting the pandemic are paltry compared to the cost

that they have imposed on the world.

This plague has cost roughly 90,000 American lives.

More than 36 million Americans have lost their job since March.

Globally, 300,000 lives– could be as much as around $9 trillion, according to our estimates,

the cost imposition on the world by the Chinese Communist Party's failures.

The United States has responded with about $10 billion to benefit the international response

– everything from vaccine research to funding for preparedness efforts and humanitarian

aid.

That's compared to a promise of $2 billion from the Chinese.

I look forward to seeing them fulfill that $2 billion commitment.

Private American businesses, too – nonprofits, charities, citizens have provided an additional

$4.3 billion from American donations to assist the world.

There is no country that remotely rivals what the United States has done to help combat

this terrible virus.

And today, I am pleased to announce another $162 million in foreign assistance, bringing

our total commitments disbursed to more than $1 billion since the outbreak began.

And that's just what the State Department and USAID have done.

In addition to that funding, today the State Department and USAID, and the Inter-American

Foundation are providing more than 200 million in assistance for Venezuelans in need as well.

This is what we do all around the world.

We will help the world recover from this pandemic.

Turning for a moment to Taiwan: I want to say congratulations to President Tsai on her

inauguration.

The democratic process in Taiwan has matured into a model for the world.

Despite great pressure from the outside, Taiwan has demonstrated the wisdom of giving people

a voice and a choice.

In Hong Kong, our decision on whether or not to certify Hong Kong as having “a high degree

of autonomy” from China is still pending.

We're closely watching what's going on there.

This week pro-democracy legislators were man-handled while trying to stop a procedural irregularity

by pro-Beijing legislators.

Leading Hong Kong activists like Martin Lee and Jimmy Lai were hauled into court.

Actions like these make it more difficult to assess that Hong Kong remains highly autonomous

from mainland China.

We're also keeping a close eye on human rights, as we always do – pandemic or no

pandemic.

I was pleased that France arrested this weekend Felicien Kabuga, who is alleged to have played

a key role in the Rwandan genocide.

We're monitoring Burundi, as voters there go to the polls today.

I urge all sides to refrain from provocations and allow there to be an election with no

violence, to let every citizen have the opportunity to exercise their democratic rights.

Nicaragua, too – we're concerned about numerous credible reports of hospitals filling

up and bodies being buried under cover of night, pointing to a much more severe situation

than the regime is actually acknowledging.

And we're concerned that individuals around the world, individuals including journalists,

have been arrested and detained based on their public statements or activities regarding

COVID-19.

The United States condemns all such uses of the pandemic around the world as a pretext

for repression.

Onto better news: Last week saw three diplomatic wins.

I'd like to highlight them:

First, last week the United States shipped its first-ever crude oil to Belarus.

I traveled there a few months back, made the commitment that we would work on this project

with them so they would be less dependent on crude oil from those who see the world

a little bit differently.

This deal will allow Belarus to diversify its supplies to go forward and take crude

oil from free nations.

We're the largest producer of oil and gas in the world.

If nations want enhanced energy security and deals crafted with respect for property rights

and free enterprise and the rule of law, come talk to us.

We'll get it done with you.

Second, in Afghanistan, the United States welcomes the political settlement by President

Ghani and Dr. Abdullah.

We urge the two leaders to channel momentum generated by this positive outcome to speed

up the government's entry into intra-Afghan negotiations.

We need all sides, including the Taliban, to do their part to get into talks.

We need violence reduced.

We're working hard to meet the critical objective of getting peace and reconciliation

inside of Afghanistan.

Third, I'm really proud of the team here at the State Department and the Commerce Department

who worked hard to help bring in the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation's

new $12 billion investment for a new state-of-the art chip foundry to Arizona.

Microchips integral to all our national security will be made in America again.

That deal was a piece of and an integral part of a string of accomplishments that we call

the “5G National Security Trifecta,” something we've been working on for some time.

Last week, the United States closed a loophole Huawei had used to circumvent export controls

by designing and producing semiconductors abroad.

And third, the third part of the trifecta is something I have mentioned before: the

5G Clean Path. 5G data transiting American diplomatic facilities must only transit through

trusted equipment.

I had a good conversation with Secretary Esper this week on the importance of making sure

our military bases participate in the 5G path initiative as well.

I want to update you on our maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran,

too.

Tomorrow marks 24 months, two years, since I launched the campaign to get Iran to behave

like a normal nation.

We continue to follow through on that commitment.

On June 8th, our designation of Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines goes into effect.

Last week, the U.S.

Government provided the maritime and energy industries new guidance to reduce their risk

of exposure to sanctionable activities related to Iran, as well as those regarding North

Korea and Syria.

The world's maritime community has warned – doing business with these vessels risks

severe consequences.

Our maximum pressure campaign also entails demanding that the regime in Tehran treat

its own people with respect and dignity.

Today, the United States announces that it is imposing sanctions on 12 Iranian individuals

and entities under human rights authorities.

One of those sanctioned is the current Minister of Interior for Iran, Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli.

We have reason to believe he is the individual who gave orders in November 2019 authorizing

Iranian police forces to use lethal force on peaceful protesters inside of Iran.

His evil commands killed Iranian citizens.

We're proud to mete out what justice we can on behalf of the slain and silenced inside

of Iran.

And finally, we have just marked the sad anniversary of six years since Paul Overby's disappearance

in Afghanistan.

Our colleagues at the FBI have renewed their $1 million offer for information leading to

his return, and my team continues to press towards that goal through diplomatic channels

as well.

The well-being of American citizens comes first to this President, to this administration.

And with that, I'm happy to take a few questions.

MS ORTAGUS: Nike, go ahead.

QUESTION: Thank you.

Good morning.

SECRETARY POMPEO: Hi.

Good morning.

QUESTION: On Taiwan, you mentioned that the democratically-elected Taiwan President Tsai

Ing-wen, a few hours ago inaugurated to continue her second term.

We saw a video message from Deputy National Security Advisor Pottinger in Mandarin Chinese,

and we saw the video message from Assistant Secretary Stillwell, and your statement to

congratulate Taiwan.

My question for you is: How does the United States envision its relationship with Taiwan

and Taiwan's global participation after WHO in the coming years?

Separately if I may, President Trump mentioned last week that the U.S. may cut off all relationship

with China.

Would you like to weigh in your thoughts?

Should the United States ponder an official relationship with Taiwan based on shared values

of democracy, religious freedom, and human rights?

Thank you.

SECRETARY POMPEO: So we congratulated the winner of the election there.

We were happy to see that.

My congratulations were in English, not Mandarin.

It was the best that I could do.

But we understand that the work that we have done there – and it comports with the history

of the agreements between the United States and China – is the right solution to maximize

the stability there in the straits.

The President talked about how we're going to respond, how he's beginning to think

about responding to the calamity that has befallen the world as a result of the actions

of the Chinese Communist Party.

I don't want to get ahead of him in terms of talking about how the administration will

respond to that, but you can already begin to see the outlines of it.

I talked about this with our 5G National Security Trifecta.

You can already see how we're beginning to work to make sure we get America First,

that we get this foreign policy right, and that we respond to these risks that the Chinese

Communist Party presents to the United States in an appropriate way.

You saw – yesterday I think it was, or maybe it was the day before – the Department of

Defense make announcements about work on rare Earth minerals so that, again, we wouldn't

be dependent on a nation that has demonstrated its unreliability, its willingness to steal

our intellectual property, all the things that, frankly, for decades – and this isn't

remotely partisan.

Democrat presidents, Republican presidents all just turned the other way because of 1.5

billion people and the opportunity for enormous markets, and this hope, this hope that engagement