REMARKS TO THE PRESSSecretary Michael R. Pompeo At a Press Availability
美国国务院发言人办公室华盛顿哥伦比亚特区（Washington, D.C.）2020年5月20日
国务卿迈克尔·蓬佩奥（Michael R. Pompeo）出席记者会时发表的谈话
新闻简报室
[摘译]
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今天我想先谈谈对中国的一些观察，因为各路媒体重点关注当前疫情的危险，忽视了一个更大的背景，即中国共产党构成的挑战。首先谈谈基本的事实。自1949年以来，中国始终受残暴的专制主义统治，属于共产党政权。
几十年来，我们往往认为通过贸易、科学交流、外交联络、让他们作为发展中国家进入世界贸易组织（WTO），这个政权可以变得更像我们。但这种情况并没有出现。
我们极大地低估了北京在意识形态和政治上敌视自由国家的程度。全世界已经认识到这个事实，现在正在觉醒。
据皮优（Pew）研究所的资料——我记得是过去这一个星期——美国66%的人对中国有不好的看法。
这是中国共产党选择的结果，而这些选择受到了该政权属性的影响。这个政权的属性并不是新鲜事。
关于这个大背景的第二点是，中国共产党处理武汉COVID-19冠状病毒疫情的方式促使我们对共产党中国有了更现实的认识。
该党宁可销毁活病毒样本，也不愿分享信息，也不要我们协助保障这些样本的安全。
中国人民解放军在南中国海（South China Sea）国际水域索求更多的地物，撞沉一艘越南渔船，威胁马来西亚能源勘探人员，并单方面宣布禁渔令。美国对这些非法行为表示谴责。
中国共产党仅仅因为澳大利亚要求对病毒的起源进行独立调查，就扬言对澳大利亚经济进行报复。这种行为是不对的。
我们支持澳大利亚和现在120多个响应美国呼吁的国家，要求对病毒的起源进行调查，使我们了解出现了什么问题，为的是现在和今后能够挽救生命。
中国共产党还对世界卫生组织（World Health Organization）总干事施加压力，排除台湾参加这个星期在日内瓦（Geneva）举行的世界卫生大会（World Health Assembly）。
我知道谭德塞（Tedros）博士与北京不寻常的密切关系由来已久，远远早于这次疫情爆发的时候。这一点十分令人不安。
这个星期习主席声称中国“本着公开、透明、负责任的态度”采取行动。我但愿这是真话。自武汉中心医院的医生开始转发类似严重急性呼吸道综合征（SARS）病毒的消息至今已有142天。
但是，在我们今天上午坐在这里的时候，北京仍然继续拒绝调查人员进入相关设施，拒不提供活病毒样本，同时对涉及中国境内疫情的讨论进行审查，等等，等等。中国共产党如果希望表示真正的开放、真正的透明，事情很简单，完全可以举行新闻发布会，如同现在这个新闻发布会一样，并且允许新闻记者向他提出他们想问的任何问题。
第三，中国对抗击大规模流行病的贡献与他们使世界付出的代价相比微不足道。
这场疫情已经造成9万多美国人死亡。自3月份以来，3,600多万美国人失去了工作。全球有30万人的生命——根据我们的估计，有可能多达大约9万亿美元，这是中国共产党的失败让世界付出的代价。
美国为此拿出大约100亿美元，帮助国际作出反应——从疫苗研究到资助防备以及人道援助等各方面。相比之下，中国承诺20亿美元。我期待看到他们兑现这20亿美元承诺。
还有美国私人企业——非营利组织、慈善机构，公民通过美国人的捐助，也为国际援助提供了43亿美元。美国为帮助抗击这个可怕病毒所做的努力任何国家望尘莫及。
今天，我高兴地宣布再提供1.62亿美元对外援助，这使自疫情开始以来我们发放的承诺总额达到超过10亿美元。这仅仅是国务院和美国国际发展署（USAID）做出的努力。
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转向台湾：我要对蔡总统就职向她表示祝贺。台湾成熟的民主进程已经成为世界的楷模。尽管有来自外面的巨大压力，但是，台湾展现了让人民能够发出声音和选择的智慧。
在香港，我们仍有待决定是否确认香港具有相对于中国的“高度自治”。我们在密切注视那里发生的情况。
本星期，民主派议员在试图阻止亲北京的议员在程序上的一项违规时，受到粗暴对待。李柱铭（Martin Lee）和黎智英（Jimmy Lai）这样的香港著名活动人士被带上法庭。这类行动给评定香港是否仍然享有相对于中国大陆的高度自治变得更加困难。
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……我对在国务院和商务部（Commerce Department）的团队感到非常骄傲，他们辛勤努力，帮助实现了台湾积体电路制造股份有限公司（Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation）在这里的120亿美元新投资，在亚利桑那（Arizona）建造一座新的先进晶圆厂。对我们国家安全不可缺少的微型芯片将再次在美国制造。
这项协议是我们称之为“5G国家安全三连胜”（5G National Security Trifecta）的一系列成果之一，是其中不可或缺的一部分。我们已经为此进行了一段时间的努力。
上星期，美国堵住了一个被华为利用的通过在海外设计和生产半导体产品而绕开出口控制的漏洞。
第三个，三连胜中的第三个部分我以前提到过：5G清洁通道（5G Clean Path）。经美国外交设施传送的5G信息必须只能使用可信赖的设备。
本星期，我与埃斯珀（Esper）部长就确保我国军事基地也加入5G通道行动计划的重要性进行了良好的交谈。

For Immediate Release
REMARKS TO THE PRESS
Secretary Michael R. Pompeo
At a Press Availability
Press Briefing Room
Washington, D.C.
May 20, 2020
SECRETARY POMPEO: Good morning, everyone. 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 would lead to a change in the behavior of the Chinese Communist Party. It didn’t happen.
And President Trump has been incredibly serious about making sure that we do the right things for the American people. I know he’ll continue to do it. We continue to work on this to develop an appropriate way to think about how we can get the Chinese Communist Party and China to behave in a way that’s consistent with how we ask every nation to behave.
MS ORTAGUS: Said, go ahead.
QUESTION: Thank you, Morgan. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Hello, sir.
QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, last night the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas abrogated all agreements with Israel and the United States, including security coordination. Do you have any comment on that? And would you also comment on the process or the progress of annexation per the announcement by Mr. Netanyahu that he will do so on July 1? Thank you, sir.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, sure. So I – we note the announcement by Abbas. I was in communication today with our teams there. We hope that the security arrangements will continue to be in place, that the work that’s done on the ground there to keep people in Israel and Palestinians safe will continue. So I’m not exactly sure what to make of his statement, but I regret that he has decided to abrogate these agreements. We laid out a very clear vision for how peace could be brought. We asked simply for this: We asked the Israelis and the Palestinians to agree that that would be the basis for negotiations between them. The Israelis have accepted that. The Palestinians have continued to refuse to just simply sit down and enter into negotiation based on President Trump’s Vision for Peace there. We know that vision for peace will lead to better lives for the Palestinian people. It acknowledges that in a very clear and unambiguous way. We hope that the leadership in the Palestinian Authority will see that that’s in their people’s best interest, and that we can move out in that way according to the vision that was laid out.
The last thing to say is I was in Israel last week. We had conversations about how we can move this vision for peace forward, and we’re going to continue to work with the – all the parties involved to try to get that ultimate outcome. You can see how the Middle East has changed. You can see how you now have the most anti-Semitic country in the world, the Islamic Republic of Iran, pitted against Arab nations and Israel who understand that the great threat in the Middle East is very different than it may have been decades ago. That threat now emanates from Iran, and you can see these other nations working together to ensure that we take down risk throughout the Middle East. And the President’s Vision for Peace there is an important component of that.
QUESTION: Has anyone spoken to the Palestinians, sir?
SECRETARY POMPEO: I don’t have anything to say on that. Thank you.
MS ORTAGUS: Go ahead, Rich.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
SECRETARY POMPEO: Hi, Rich.
QUESTION: Several Senate Republicans say they want a specific explanation as to why the administration fired the inspector general here. Senator Grassley says, “An expression of lost confidence, without further explanation, is not sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the IG Reform Act.” Will you provide Congress a more detailed explanation on why you recommended the firing to the President? And will the State Department make the House Foreign Affairs Committee deadline for documents this Friday at 5:00?
SECRETARY POMPEO: So there’s been lots of discussion about – I’ve read a number of reports. Let me say three things. First, the President has the unilateral right to choose who he wants to be his inspector general at every agency in the federal government. They are presidentially confirmed positions, and those persons, just like all of us, serve at the pleasure of the President of the United States.
In this case, I recommended to the President that Steve Linick be terminated. I frankly should have done it some time ago.
MS ORTAGUS: I think I’ve got to get you out, sir.
QUESTION: (Off-mike.)
SECRETARY POMPEO: I’m happy to take – I’m happy to take one more.
MS ORTAGUS: Okay. Barbara, go ahead.
QUESTION: Okay. So you have said, sir, that Mr. Linick was “undermining” the department’s mission. What exactly does that mean? Can you give us examples? Even the President doesn’t know what that means. He says he didn’t really know the guy before you mentioned it. So what specifically has Mr. Linick done?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah. Yeah, unlike others, I don’t talk about personnel matters. I don’t leak to you all, and —
QUESTION: So did he leak?
SECRETARY POMPEO: Yeah, I just – I’ll just say this: I can’t talk. I can’t give you specificity. We’ll share with the appropriate people the rationale, but no – there should be no mistake. There’s —
QUESTION: But he’s an accountability official. Does —
MS ORTAGUS: Can we let him finish, please?
QUESTION: Is it a secret as to why he was fired?
MS ORTAGUS: Can we let him finish, please?
SECRETARY POMPEO: May I answer the question, if you will? I appreciate the question. Let’s be clear. There are claims that this was for a retaliation for some investigation that the Inspector General’s Office here was engaged in. It’s patently false. I have no sense of what investigations were taking place inside the Inspector General’s Office. Couldn’t possibly have retaliated for all the things – I’ve seen the various stories that – like, someone was walking my dog to sell arms to my dry cleaner. (Laughter.) I mean, it’s all just crazy. It’s all crazy stuff.
QUESTION: What about the Saudi arms? Sir —
SECRETARY POMPEO: So I didn’t have access to that information, so I couldn’t possibly have retaliated. It would have been impossible. There’s one exception. I was asked a series of questions in writing; I responded to those questions with respect to a particular investigation. That was some time earlier this year, as best I can recall, responding to those questions. I don’t know the scope. I don’t know the nature of that investigation, other than what I would have seen from the nature of the questions that I was presented. I did what was right. I don’t know if that investigation is continuing. I don’t know if that investigation has been closed out. I don’t have any sense of that. Again, it’s not possible for there have been retaliation.
Here’s the last thing to think about as you see these stories that have been leaked – to you all, right, to the press. This is all coming through the office of Senator Menendez. I don’t get my ethics guidance from a man who was criminally prosecuted – case number 15-155 in New Jersey federal district court – a man for whom his Senate colleagues, bipartisan, said basically that he was taking bribes. That’s a – that’s not someone who I look to for ethics guidance.
And so I’ll continue to do the right thing, to make sure the State Department is served by every employee, including our inspector general, and we’ll make sure the State Department continues to deliver on behalf of the American people.
QUESTION: What about Congressman Engel? What about the House Foreign Affairs Committee, sir?
MS ORTAGUS: Okay. I think that’s it, sir.
SECRETARY POMPEO: Thank you, all. Everybody have a great day, and —
QUESTION: And Senator Grassley?
SECRETARY POMPEO: — have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend, too. So long.