Daily Press Briefing

Elizabeth Trudeau
Director, Press Office
Daily Press Briefing
Washington, DC
August 9, 2016

Index for Today's Briefing

DEPARTMENT
IRAN
DEPARTMENT
TURKEY
AFGHANISTAN
IRAQ
SYRIA
PHILIPPINES
YEMEN/SAUDI ARABIA
SOUTH KOREA
YEMEN/SAUDI ARABIA
CHINA/REGION
IRAN
MIDDLE EAST PEACE

TRANSCRIPT:

2:01 p.m. EDT

MS TRUDEAU: Afternoon, everyone. I have one thing at the top, and then we'll get to your questions. A scheduling note: the annual International Religious Freedom Report, which is due tomorrow, describes the status of religious freedom in every country. The report covers government policies violating religious belief and practices of groups, religious denominations, and individuals, and U.S. policies to promote religious freedom around the world. The U.S. Department of State submits the report in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.

Tomorrow, Deputy Secretary Blinken will release the 2015 annual report at 10:00 a.m. here in the briefing room. He will be joined by Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Saperstein, who will also give remarks and take questions. We look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Matt.

QUESTION: Okay. Let me just start with the question that I've been asking a couple times. I just want to know – I just want to try and get this cleared up. Am I ever going to get an answer to the question about the planes? (Laughter.)

MS TRUDEAU: I've given you the answer I can give.

QUESTION: So there is no attempt on your part to uncover more information about what --

MS TRUDEAU: We've given you what we can give, Matt.

QUESTION: So it's basically a waste of time to keep asking about it? Is that what you're saying?

MS TRUDEAU: Pretty much. Yeah. I appreciate the question. As we've said, we're not going to get into a tick-tock. We've explained what the delay was for the plane with the Americans leaving, and I'll leave it at that.

QUESTION: Okay. On a – also, this is a lingering question. It's a different subject completely, but --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- it's not really policy. So you've probably seen that Judicial Watch has released another --

MS TRUDEAU: I have.

QUESTION: -- batch of email. I'm curious to know what your take on this is, particularly the fact that some of them – 44 of them of what was – what they have put out were previously not put out by the State Department, even though they were while she was secretary of state.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So I have quite a bit to say on that, so thank you for the question. We'll get this out of the way at the top. So former Secretary Clinton has previously acknowledged that she emailed with department officials before March 18th, 2009, the date of the first email in the collection that former Secretary Clinton provided to the department in December 2014. Former Secretary Clinton has also indicated that she does not have access to work-related emails beyond those that she turned over to the department. In addition, at the department's request, Secretary Clinton confirmed for the court that she believed that all of her emails on clintonemail.com in her custody that were potentially federal records were provided to the department. In September 2015, we also asked the FBI to inform us should it recover any records from Secretary Clinton's server that we don't already have.

As you know, the department recently received documents from the FBI reflecting emails sent to or from former Secretary Clinton's email, which were not included in the materials provided to the State Department by former Secretary Clinton in December 2014. The State Department has produced approximately 52,000 pages of former Secretary Clinton's emails through a monthly FOIA release process that involved 14 releases over 10 months. This was a massive undertaking, and our staff worked incredibly hard to get this done. There are many FOIA requests related to former Secretary Clinton's emails. We are now focused on responding.

We have produced, in response to FOIA requests, a number of emails involving former Secretary Clinton that were not part of the approximately 55,000 pages. And to the extent that additional emails are retrieved that are responsive to FOIA requests, we will continue to do so. Our goal is to be as transparent as possible and to respond to specific requests.

QUESTION: Do you know – have you asked – presumably this is included in your request to the FBI. Do you know that that – to turn over the emails that they recovered – do you know if you specifically asked for emails that may have been from before that March '09 date from the FBI?

MS TRUDEAU: So we've asked them, should the FBI recover any records from Secretary Clinton's server that we don't already have, to inform us, so any records.

QUESTION: Regardless of --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: Regardless of the timing of them? Okay. That's it for me.

MS TRUDEAU: Lesley.

QUESTION: Well, not on the emails. Can I change --

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Can I see if anyone's got email? Tejinder?

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: Yep.

QUESTION: The – can you give – you gave us like 52,000, over 40- -- what about this, how many emails – what is the status from the FBI? Like have you received everything that they're supposed to give?

MS TRUDEAU: From the FBI?

QUESTION: Yes.

MS TRUDEAU: So we can confirm on August 5th the FBI provided the State Department with the second and final transmission of documents. As you know, and as we've said many times, the department takes its record management and Freedom of Information Act responsibilities seriously. Just as we appropriately process the material turned over to the department by former Secretary Clinton, we will appropriately and with due diligence process any additional material we receive from the FBI to identify work-related agency records and make them available to the public, consistent with our legal obligations.

As I noted, we've received this on August 5th. We've just received it. We're still assessing what that process will look like.

QUESTION: Is there any number of emails or number of documents that you have received total?

MS TRUDEAU: As our filing stated, we received documents in the thousands. It's ongoing litigation, so I don't know a lot more to offer than what was in the filing.

QUESTION: And the inner – internal review --

MS TRUDEAU: Mm-hmm.

QUESTION: Where is any updates on that?

MS TRUDEAU: So I have no update from, I guess, a couple weeks ago, where I spoke about it extensively from the podium. So no update from then.

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: And are we done with emails? Super.

QUESTION: Okay. Can I turn to Turkey, please.

MS TRUDEAU: Is this an email? Okay. Good. Let's go to Turkey.

QUESTION: You've probably seen today the reports of Erdogan meeting Vladimir Putin. But the question I want to ask you is the one on this – on kind of everything overshadowing it, which includes Turkey today warned of anti – rising anti-American sentiment and a risk to a migrant deal. Do you think that any of this – how seriously are you taking this? And how much does this visit and these discussions between Erdogan and Putin put at risk any of the American interests --

MS TRUDEAU: So I would separate these out completely. We spoke about the President's conversations in Russia. As I said yesterday, we don't view this as a zero-sum game. Certainly Turkey and Russia are both members of the fight against Daesh. They're both members of the ISSG. There's a lot of common goals, common interests there. In terms of those bilateral discussions, I'd refer you to the Turkish Government to speak to their president's travel.

Speaking on the migrant deal, we have said publicly how important we believe this is. We hope this will move forward.

On the anti-American rhetoric, because I know you had about three questions in there, one of the things that we remain concerned about is rhetoric that we don't view as helpful. As we engage with our Turkish counterparts, we are concerned. We expect all parties – media, civil society, the Turkish Government – to be responsible in their statements on this. We believe our relations and our partnership and our friendship with Turkey is strong. We've said this publicly. We stand with the Government of Turkey on this.

QUESTION: A lot of this seems to be coming down to the fact that there's been no move yet on Gulen, the cleric. Is there anything further – are you hearing anything further on an extradition or any further developments on that?

MS TRUDEAU: No. I have nothing more to read out. As we've said publicly on this, this is a legal, technical process, governed by the 1981 extradition treaty signed by both of our countries. This will continue to move forward, and we're directly in touch with Turkish authorities on this process.

Are we staying on Turkey?

QUESTION: On this issue.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Barbara, I'll come to you after Michel.

QUESTION: Turkish justice minister has said today that they – or has warned the U.S. not to sacrifice bilateral relations for the sake of Mr. Gulen. And he said if the U.S. does not deliver Gulen they will sacrifice relations with Turkey for the sake of a terrorist. Any comment on that?

MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to comment to that specific question. As we've said, the extradition process is a very technical – it's legally governed. This is not a process that is influenced by emotion or political rhetoric. It's actually governed by a treaty.

Barbara.

QUESTION: Just a quick one. Have you responded in any way to this – these allegations in the Turkish press that the Wilson Center was behind the coup? Have you raised it with counterparts in terms of the unacceptable rhetoric that you talked about?

MS TRUDEAU: So I've seen those comments, and certainly we've seen the Wilson Center itself has spoken to it, so I would direct you there. I think this sort of conspiracy theory, inflammatory rhetoric, as I said, is absolutely not helpful. I would refer you to the Wilson Center and its personnel and its directors to speak to this, but conspiracy theories get us nowhere.

QUESTION: But you haven't – the State Department hasn't raised it as part of the back and forth with Turkish officials.

MS TRUDEAU: I – we've certainly spoken to our Turkish counterparts on unhelpful rhetoric.

Carol.

QUESTION: Oh --

QUESTION: When --

MS TRUDEAU: I'm sorry, I'll come back to you, Matt. I'm sorry, do you mind? Go ahead, Carol.

QUESTION: When Erdogan and Putin were speaking today, they seemed to suggest that the United States did not really respond expeditiously in the immediate hours after the coup. Do you think you came up with a response soon enough, recognizing that the Secretary was in Moscow and it was approaching midnight when this was happening?

MS TRUDEAU: I can speak to what we did do. I think all of you guys were in the same position we were. We were watching this unfold here in the United States on social media. We were getting reports. It was unclear for quite a while what exactly happened. I would note that the State Department issued a formal statement from the Secretary about 7:00 p.m. that night. That was very quick. And that statement was very clear in our support of Turkey, its democratically elected government, and the Turkish people. So thanks for the question, Carol.

I'm going to go to Matt and then I'll go to you.

QUESTION: Just on the rhetoric, have you seen the – this photograph that purports to show Ambassador Bass meeting with a military officer, who looks like one of those implicated in the coup, the day before?

MS TRUDEAU: I have not.

QUESTION: It's circulating out there. I'm just wondering if --

MS TRUDEAU: I have not, no.

Are we done with Turkey?

QUESTION: I have one more question.

MS TRUDEAU: I'm sorry, one more. Yes, ma'am.

QUESTION: I mean, are – I mean, how nervous do you get when you see Putin meeting with the Turkish prime minister? I mean, what do you think could be jeopardized if our ally with – or if like our ally with Turkey is – it's weakened?

MS TRUDEAU: No, I don't think it's a question at all that our relationship with Turkey would be weak or weakened at all by this. As I said, not a zero-sum game. These are sovereign nations. They have relationships around the world. Turkey and Russia have common goals not only in the fight against Daesh but within the ISSG, taking a look at the situation in Syria. In terms of the content of those discussions, though, I'm going to refer you to those governments.

Okay. Are we good on Turkey? Ma'am.

QUESTION: Afghanistan?

MS TRUDEAU: Of course.

QUESTION: There is so many reports, especially Wall Street Journal said that Taliban and Daesh has made alliance to fight against Afghanistan Government. Do you have any comment, and what do you think about this?

MS TRUDEAU: So we spoke a little bit about this at the daily press brief yesterday. I'd refer you to those comments, okay?

QUESTION: Can I --

MS TRUDEAU: Nike.

QUESTION: Yes. The situation in Helmand Province in Afghanistan is very dire, getting worse. Do you have any concerns about the Taliban is getting more and more of threats? And also the peace process in Afghanistan is out of control, out of hand.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Well, I guess I would start with the Afghan forces. While they continue to face a number of operational and institutional challenges, the Afghan forces have made progress. I think if we take a look at where we were even 15 years ago, it's extraordinary. The support with – the Afghan forces, they now have the support of Afghan air capabilities, the U.S. airstrikes, expanded U.S. authorities. They remain in control of all population centers.

I would say that our commitment to the Afghan forces remains clear. I think you saw the President as well as our other NATO allies and partners discuss this in Warsaw just a few weeks ago or maybe a few months ago. Time is slipping by.

In terms of your question on peace talks, as you know, we addressed a little bit about this yesterday. We call on the Taliban to participate in peace talks with the Government of Afghanistan. As we discussed yesterday, the Taliban have a choice on this.

QUESTION: Any information on the situation in Helmand province particularly?

MS TRUDEAU: What I would say is that as the Afghan forces continue to stabilize and secure their country for the future of the Afghan people, there are obviously situations where the battlefield movements remain fluid. We believe, however, that they are growing increasingly strong, increasingly capable, and we will stand with them.

Okay, more on Afghanistan? Are we okay? Laurie.

QUESTION: Iraq. The Kurdistan Regional Government has been asking the counter-ISIL coalition countries to help with medical supplies and particularly the treatment of wounded Peshmerga outside of the country when the necessary treatment is not available in the Kurdistan region or in Iraq. There's an official list of such wounded Peshmerga. So does the State Department have any programs or any intention to establish such programs that would assist these wounded warriors?

MS TRUDEAU: So we provide tremendous assistance to the Peshmerga, to include much-needed medical supplies and equipment. However, I would note we do not have a program to transport wounded Peshmerga out of Kurdistan. Taking a look, though, at the assistance, on July 11th, with the full of approval of the Government of Iraq, Secretary Carter finalized a memorandum of understanding with the KRG that would facilitate the utilization of $415 million. These funds, to address your question, will provide short-term assistance in medical equipment as well as food, ammunition, stipends, and other assistance. I would also note last summer, in coordination with coalition partners and the Government of Iraq, the KRG received equipment and supplies to aid wounded Peshmerga, including 150 vehicles, including ambulances.

QUESTION: Sorry, how much was that?

MS TRUDEAU: 415 million.

QUESTION: 415 million?

MS TRUDEAU: On July 11th.

QUESTION: With the Mosul offensive coming up, would you consider expanding this program to address that specific need of getting treatment --

MS TRUDEAU: I've got no new programs to announce on that. As we've said multiple times from this podium, we are very aware of the importance of the Peshmerga in this fight, and we're also very aware of the assistance that the situation requires.

QUESTION: Sorry --

MS TRUDEAU: Yes sir.

QUESTION: Can we go to Syria?

MS TRUDEAU: I'm sorry. We'll get there, Said.

QUESTION: Who wrote that phrase? "Facilitate the utilization of" – doesn't that just mean spend?

MS TRUDEAU: Is that what I just said?

QUESTION: Yeah. Does that mean spend?

MS TRUDEAU: Let's say spend. (Laughter.) Let's say spend.

QUESTION: Is that from the Pentagon? Did they write that?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, doesn't that sound like a Pentagon line? (Laughter.)

Said.

QUESTION: Facilitate the utilization --

QUESTION: Yeah. Syria.

MS TRUDEAU: That's a – that was – that's world-class.

QUESTION: Syria.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: The United Nations just called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Aleppo because apparently there was intense fighting.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: My question to you: How does that work? Because there seems to be lack of enthusiasm, let's say, calling for a ceasefire a couple days ago during the offensive of the opposition – opposition group. So could you just, first of all, update us on what's going on and how do you see this ceasefire?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Well, I'm not going to update you on the ground. We spoke a little bit yesterday about how fluid the situation is. But let me make our position clear on this: We continue to urge all parties for complete compliance with a nationwide cessation of hostilities. We firmly believe that full compliance with the cessation by all parties is the only path to improve the prospect for successful talks.

QUESTION: Well, I mean, these temporary or brief ceasefires and so on, they seem to break down, first of all, very quickly and not have a lasting effect. Should there be some sort of a call or an effort for a countrywide ceasefire that would bring all groups – have you in this case or your allies lean on the opposition – opposition groups that keep changing names and keep changing modes of attack.

MS TRUDEAU: I mean, we couldn't agree more on this and we've been clear on this. We are calling on all parties to do this. What we would say, though, as you well know, the Syrian regime, aided by Russian efforts, is responsible, we believe, for the majority of these violations. We believe these actions are only encouraging more terrorism – the very thing that the regime and Russia are supposedly trying to combat.

QUESTION: But I'm a little bit confused because the attacks by the opposition, the opposition groups, or Fateh al-Sham, which is – was, what – couple weeks ago was Jabhat al-Nusrah, and they are aided by weapons that are supplied by the Saudis, supplied by many of your allies and so on – even, some say, supplied directly by you. I mean, how do you juxtapose this against your call for a lasting ceasefire?

MS TRUDEAU: I would talk about what Ambassador Power said yesterday, and as well as she made some comments to the press today in New York. At the informal UN Security Council meeting yesterday, they had that conversation about the situation now in Aleppo and the impact on civilians. It is really hard to characterize this. This is dire. The reinstitution of a cessation of hostilities – all parties, to your point, respecting that – is the only path forward.

Sir.

QUESTION: There's more reports --

MS TRUDEAU: Are we staying on Syria? Because --

QUESTION: No, Yemen.

QUESTION: I've got a Syria question.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay, hold on.

QUESTION: No worries.

MS TRUDEAU: Let me stay on Syria. John.

QUESTION: The charge from the opposition after this UN ceasefire call is that just as they broke the siege in Aleppo, now that there's this call for a ceasefire when there's all sorts of other attacks going from the regime against the opposition in other parts of the country as well. Is that a fair criticism of the UN, which is calling for --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I wouldn't bat back individual conversations on when a ceasefire was called or why it was called. Let's talk about the importance of a ceasefire and let's talk about why we're doing it, which is calling for the protection of civilians and access to humanitarian aid. I think we've seen reports – the lack of access to potable water, the lack of access to medical supplies, the lack of access to food. This is a dire situation.

Let's stay on Syria. Michel.

QUESTION: To what extent are you still believing in the cessation of hostilities agreement? It looks like all the Syrians, the Russians, the Iranians, nobody is believing in it. And we saw what happened in Aleppo in the last couple days. Why you are still calling the – all the parties to comply with this agreement and no one believes in it?

MS TRUDEAU: The basic truth is there's no military solution to the conflict in Syria. We've said that repeatedly. It's our belief and it's the belief of the majority of members of the ISSG is that there will be no peace in Syria without a political transition. A cessation of hostilities provides the space where we could have hope of having political talks.

QUESTION: And after the session in the Security Council yesterday, do you still believe that de Mistura will be able to resume talks at the end of this month?

MS TRUDEAU: We strongly support the efforts of the – of Mr. de Mistura and we hope that we will come to a point, as he continues to work through that, that that will happen.

Matt, and then I'm going to go to Nick.

QUESTION: Just very briefly on Aleppo and this group that is allegedly involved, was involved in breaking the siege – a rebel group, the ones that were accused of beheading this --

MS TRUDEAU: Al-Zenki.

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: Beheading this child. One, do you know if the reports are true that they are or were involved in the fighting around Aleppo recently?

MS TRUDEAU: So we've seen reports that the alleged perpetrators in last month's video have been seen fighting in Aleppo. I'm not in a position to confirm.

QUESTION: Okay. Should you – should it become confirmed that they are, is that an issue for you guys?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah. Well, obviously, when reports of the beheading came out is we strongly condemned the barbaric actions seen on that video no matter what group was responsible. We note that that group had also said that they would hold those individuals to account. We're not in a position to confirm if that's happened, but we do expect all parties to comply with obligations under the law of armed conflict.

QUESTION: So you're unaware that there has ever been a resolution to this specific --

MS TRUDEAU: I am not in a position to confirm that, no.

QUESTION: -- case. And then just the other thing, which I think you probably won't answer, but is this group still being supported by or was it ever supported by the United States?

MS TRUDEAU: So for security reasons, we do not comment on which groups are funded by the United States. However, we don't support groups that commit this sort of barbarity, period.

QUESTION: Okay. So that would suggest, imply without saying it directly, that if a group were to have done something like this and it had been getting U.S. support, it would no longer be eligible for U.S. support if --

MS TRUDEAU: I'd just repeat my last point: We do not support groups --

QUESTION: Are there – is it against the rules to complete a syllogism in this building?

MS TRUDEAU: It is – for security reasons, we don't indicate which groups we do support. It's policy.

QUESTION: Even if you don't support them any longer?

QUESTION: I'm asking you if you don't support them, not if you do.

MS TRUDEAU: What I'm saying is that we don't support groups that would engage in this sort of barbarity.

QUESTION: That would engage in?

MS TRUDEAU: That may have engaged.

Okay. We're going to stay on Syria, so Nick, you were going to go, and then – but Nick is done.

QUESTION: I have (inaudible).

QUESTION: And then can I do Syria after Nick?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Are you guys on Syria?

QUESTION: Yes.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. Let's --

QUESTION: Sure. So is there any update on the proposed arrangement with Russia regarding the targeting of al-Nusrah in cooperation – back in Moscow, the Secretary, quite a while ago now, said they had made some progress on that. Is there any new information?

MS TRUDEAU: I have no update from the Secretary's comments in Moscow.

QUESTION: And is there a concern in this building that Aleppo – there may be some waiting on the side of the Russians in – with regards to the situation in Aleppo before any agreement is agreed to?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I'm not going to get ahead of those conversations.

Barbara.

QUESTION: Well, it's really kind of similar to what he was asking, which is you continually say there's no military solution and it has to be a political agreement, but isn't it quite obvious by now that the parties on the ground and the Russians think that whoever gets Aleppo will have leverage at the political negotiating table? So no matter what the U.S. might be saying, that that dynamic is going to take over – has taken over.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I wouldn't tie it to any particular military operation. What I'd say is we believe – in speaking broadly about the talks, and the Secretary said something very similar – is if there is a chance to get to a genuine cessation of hostilities that provides the sort of full humanitarian access that we're talking about, that protects civilians and provides the space – facilitates a framework for a political transition, we have to try.

Lesley.

QUESTION: Yeah. I know the Secretary is on vacation, but has he made any calls with regard to this through – to Syria?

MS TRUDEAU: I don't have any calls from today to read out.

QUESTION: No?

MS TRUDEAU: I don't.

QUESTION: (Inaudible.)

MS TRUDEAU: If I have any update, I'll have it for you tomorrow.

QUESTION: So can I just ask, in straight --

MS TRUDEAU: Of course.

QUESTION: -- what – I mean, does he still believe that a deal or – is possible given what's happened in Aleppo?

MS TRUDEAU: So I would actually point you back to what President Obama said, which Russians' – Russia's actions over the last several weeks do raise serious concerns about their commitments to pulling the situation back. It is time that Russia proves it's serious about advancing its shared objectives in Syria, but again, we believe that this full cessation of hostilities, that humanitarian access – the space for a political transition is really our only choice now.

Nick, are we – and then we'll go back.

QUESTION: A quick one on the Philippines?

MS TRUDEAU: Oh, wait. Are we done on Syria? I'm sorry, we're not. We'll get to the Philippines. Go ahead, Abigail.

QUESTION: On Syria, do you have any information on reports that two Americans were killed while volunteer fighting for the YPG in Syria?

MS TRUDEAU: Due to privacy considerations, I have no information for you.

QUESTION: To Yemen, there's --

MS TRUDEAU: I'm sorry. You know what? Hold on one second.

QUESTION: Wait, wait, wait, just --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: The Privacy Act does not apply to deceased.

MS TRUDEAU: That's true, but --

QUESTION: So does that mean that you do not believe that these people are dead, that they are still covered by the Privacy Act?

MS TRUDEAU: What I would say is that I have no information on that that I can share at this point.

Before we go there, are we good with Syria? Okay. I'm going to go to the Philippines, then I'll come back to you. Go ahead, Nic.

QUESTION: Yes, thank you. On the Philippines, do you have a readout on the meeting the Filipino charge d'affaires had yesterday, I think, at the Department of State? Or at least could you tell us if you were satisfied with the clarification he gave about the very offensive comment his president made against your ambassador in Manila?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I have no further details of that discussion to read out. I'll leave our comments on that – on what was said yesterday.

QUESTION: Yeah, I wanted to ask – I'm not sure I understand why it is you were seeking clarification --

MS TRUDEAU: I think what we were seeking is --

QUESTION: -- specifically. You were protesting or you were complaining --

MS TRUDEAU: I think what we were seeking is perhaps a better understanding of why that statement was made.

QUESTION: So clarification of the circumstances? You didn't want him to actually clarify the --

MS TRUDEAU: I think clarification of --

QUESTION: -- the content of what the president said, did you?

MS TRUDEAU: I would agree with you --

QUESTION: It's pretty obvious.

MS TRUDEAU: Yes.

QUESTION: So you are not seeking apologies?

MS TRUDEAU: I'm not going to detail any of the discussions that happened at that.

QUESTION: But – sorry to insist, but the U.S. Secretary of State was in Manila ten days ago. It's one of your closest ally in Asia. The president has clearly insulted your ambassador. The U.S. is not going to protest officially?

MS TRUDEAU: We actually asked the charge to come into the department, which happened yesterday. We had that conversation. I'm going to not read out any more details of that conversation.

QUESTION: Is --

MS TRUDEAU: Yes, sir. Is this Philippines?

QUESTION: Yes.

MS TRUDEAU: I'm sorry.

QUESTION: Is there any discussion to withdraw or to suspend any financial aids to Philippines?

MS TRUDEAU: Not to my awareness, no.

QUESTION: There are reports out of Yemen that 14 civilians were killed due to Saudi-led airstrikes. Is the State Department concerned about the increase in civilian causalities in Yemen?

MS TRUDEAU: Okay. So we do all – urge all sides to halt all offensive military actions, including in particular the area I believe you're speaking about on the Saudi-Yemeni border, in Taiz, and in the areas between Marib and the capital. Of course we're very concerned.

QUESTION: And then a follow up. Are – is there any concern by the State Department that weapons that may have been part of a U.S.-Saudi deal in the past, maybe even dating back to when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state – is there any concern that those weapons are being used when these civilian causalities are happening?

MS TRUDEAU: We've actually spoken about end-use of weapons before from this podium. Speaking specifically on Yemen now, what we're talking about is – we're urging all sides to refrain from these offensive military actions. In terms of end-use conversations, they actually come when we do weapon transfers.

QUESTION: So there's no concern particularly --

MS TRUDEAU: I think our concerns are always on civilian causalities and our concerns are especially on the situation in Yemen, which is at a very precarious place right now.

QUESTION: But there's not going to be a halt in any of the tranches of bombs to Saudi Arabia?

MS TRUDEAU: This is – as you guys know, we have – when we do arms shipments, we do announce those. Those are in – as required. I don't have anything to announce on that.

Nick.

QUESTION: (Off-mike.)

MS TRUDEAU: Philippines? Or, I'm sorry, Yemen?

QUESTION: Yeah.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: You have expressed – not you only – from this podium the concerns. It's not the first time that civilians have been killed in Yemen. Have you directly talked to Saudi Arabia? Have you reached out? Because from the Yemeni side, they're not killing – going and killing civilians in Saudi Arabia, but it's the Saudi Arabians who are killing these Yemeni citizens.

MS TRUDEAU: We're seeing actually all sides perpetuating violence against civilians in Yemen.

QUESTION: But have you talked to Saudi Arabia about it?

MS TRUDEAU: We have had conversations with our partners on our concern. We've said this publicly; we've said this privately.

QUESTION: Not the partners. Saudi Arabia specifically asked?

MS TRUDEAU: We've had – we call on sides. We've had conversations with our partners on that.

QUESTION: Do we have any dates, the last time you --

MS TRUDEAU: I have no conversations to read out, Tejinder.

QUESTION: On South Korea.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: On that. So a month ago, John Kirby said from the podium that the U.S. had reached out to China to offer details about the system that it was going to install, and to his knowledge the Chinese had not responded yet. Since then, has China responded and have there been discussions with China about THAAD placement?

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I have no conversations to read out on that, Nick. Let me check, and if we have something I'll get back to you.

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: Elizabeth --

QUESTION: Can we stay in the region?

MS TRUDEAU: Wait. Are we staying on South Korea?

QUESTION: No. Can we go back to Saudi Arabia and Yemen?

MS TRUDEAU: Of course.

QUESTION: There is a news saying that the State Department has approved a 1 billion sale of 153 General Dynamics M1A2S Abrams tanks to Saudi Arabia. Do you have anything on this?

MS TRUDEAU: I do. As we are required to announce these, on August 8th, the department approved notification of Congress of a proposed transfer of Saudi – of up to 115 M1A27[1] Saudi Abram main battle tanks and related equipment, valued at up to 1.15 billion under the Foreign Military Sales program.

QUESTION: Thank you.

QUESTION: Just one more follow up on that.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: Have there been any sort of conversations between U.S. State Department and the Saudis to avoid civilian causalities as more weapons deals are in the talks? Is the State Department concerned that U.S. weapons that have been sent to Saudi Arabia will take part in the killing of civilians?

MS TRUDEAU: So what I would say is we regularly talk to our partners and our allies around the world. Civilian causalities are obviously of grave concern to us.

Are we going to stay on this? We --

QUESTION: China?

MS TRUDEAU: Yep.

QUESTION: I want to go to China.

MS TRUDEAU: Yep.

QUESTION: Did you see the reports yesterday or overnight on the Center for Strategic International Studies provided the satellite photograph showing China had built reinforced aircraft hangars on one of the disputed islands?

MS TRUDEAU: I did see those reports.

QUESTION: Okay. I mean, does one believe this is – that China's continuing with reinforcing its hold in these areas, is it a militarization? Have there been discussions --

MS TRUDEAU: So I would say that this type of potentially dual-use construction activity has raised tensions in the region. It also calls into question China's willingness to abide by President Xi's statement last September that China does not intend to militarize its outposts in the Spratly. Such actions undermine regional confidence that China's willing to resolve contested matters in a non-coercive manner.

We reiterate, as we have in the past, our call for all claimants to halt land reclamation in disputed areas in further development of new facilities and new militarization of their outposts, and instead to utilize the opportunity presented by the July 12th arbitral tribunal's decision to reach an understanding on appropriate behavior and activities in disputed areas.

QUESTION: So you do think that this is – is China continuing the same behavior?

MS TRUDEAU: It certainly calls into question China's willingness to abide by President Xi's statement.

QUESTION: And can you independently – I mean, I'm not questioning the CSIS, but have you – are these the same images and are they true to what is happening? I mean --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I would just let our statement --

QUESTION: I'm saying it's not --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, I can't --

QUESTION: You can't verify?

MS TRUDEAU: Exactly. Are we staying on China?

QUESTION: Yes.

MS TRUDEAU: Yes, sir.

QUESTION: So are you planning on taking any additional steps or changing your strategy in terms of pressuring the Chinese? I mean, they have been continuing to build despite your statements and calls for de-escalating tensions and taking this opportunity.

MS TRUDEAU: What I would say is that we continue to raise our concerns about China's actions both publicly and privately. We continue to work on multiple fronts to convince all parties to refrain from provocations, to work to peacefully resolve disputes.

QUESTION: Do you think that continuing to raise these concerns have had a positive effect?

MS TRUDEAU: I think continuing to raise these concerns is part of the process of diplomacy.

QUESTION: I also have a sort of technical question. Beyond reclamations, it's been reported that there's been an increasing number of Chinese coast guard ships that have been spotted near the Senkaku Islands. Would you extend the same sort of statement of concern? How do you assess these actions?

MS TRUDEAU: So we're closely monitoring the situation. We're in close communication with the Japanese Government regarding their concerns. The United States position on the Senkaku Islands, as stated previously by the President, is clear and longstanding. The Senkaku Islands have been under Japanese administration since the reversion of Okinawa in 1972. As such, they fall within the scope of Article 5 of the 1960 U.S.-Japan Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security. We do not take a position on the question of ultimate sovereignty on the islands.

Anything more, Japan? Okay. We're going to go here, and then I'll come back to you, Said.

QUESTION: Can I go back on China? I mean, I know you've raised concerns, but are there any consequences for them rejecting The Hague decision at all or --

MS TRUDEAU: As we said, we believe the arbitral tribunal presents a window of opportunity that claimants can take to explore diplomacy and to resolve these issues in accordance with international law.

Go ahead.

QUESTION: On Iran, does the department have anything on this letter that former Iranian President Ahmadinejad sent to President Barack Obama regarding settlement claims?

MS TRUDEAU: So we've seen the letter sent from the former president to President Obama. In terms of the details on the court case, I'm going to refer you to the Department of Justice.

Okay. Said.

QUESTION: Can I ask about the Palestinian-Israeli issue?

MS TRUDEAU: Of course.

QUESTION: Very quickly, yesterday, we talked about World Vision --

MS TRUDEAU: We did.

QUESTION: -- and the employee. Today, the Israelis announced the arrest of a UNDP employee engineer under really the most dubious of charges. They say that he worked on repairing homes that maybe some Hamas officials lived there and so on. So is this – are we seeing a trend that the Israelis are trying to really choke any kind of UN effort or humanitarian effort for the Palestinians, especially in Gaza? Are you concerned?

MS TRUDEAU: So there's two answers to that. One, I can speak from the U.S. view and what we think about on U.S. assistance to the West Bank and Gaza moving forward. We believe U.S. assistance to the Palestinians serves our vital national security interests and is undertaken in close coordination with our local and international partners, which does include the Government of Israel. These include efforts in the West Bank and Gaza to alleviate humanitarian suffering and work towards economic prosperity and security.

The allegations against Palestinian humanitarian workers, if proven true, are a clear signal that both donors and nonprofits need to continue to be as vigilant as possible to help assure assistance reaches those it is intended to help. We continue to work with our partners, including the Palestinian Authority as well as the Government of Israel, to strengthen safeguards to ensure vital assistance reaches the intended recipients.

On the UNDP charge as well as on the World Vision charge, there are ongoing investigations on this, as you know, as you alluded to. As the investigations move forward, we're working closely, we're monitoring closely. We understand, actually and particularly, World Vision is doing its own independent investigation. The UNDP charges just came out. They'll also continue to take a look at it as well.

QUESTION: Because the track record is that Israel has never really been a fan of these UN programs, whether it's UNRWA or UNDP or others and so on. And certainly, the Palestinian Authority does not have the authority to pursue such investigations, or in fact, the desire, especially where things as far as Gaza is concerned. I'm saying that would the U.S. suggest or involve itself in such a – any kind of independent investigatory body to look into these matters?

MS TRUDEAU: Well, as I mentioned, World Vision is doing its own. I'd refer you to the UN Development Program. I'm not aware if they've announced their own independent investigation. But we will continue to monitor this closely. As I said, aid to these areas is a U.S. national security priority.

QUESTION: And one last question on the power.

MS TRUDEAU: Sure.

QUESTION: Israel is cutting off power to many villages and towns in the West Bank because the Palestinians are unable to pay their bills. And apparently, they're – so they appealed to this – to the high court. And the high court said that although they do have the authority to stop or to force the electric company, the Israeli electric company, from cutting off the electricity, they will not do so. My question to you: Is the United States – can the United States infuse authority – the Palestinian Authority or those concerned with some sort of emergency fund to pay off or --

MS TRUDEAU: I have no additional funding to announce. Actually, I wasn't tracking that. Let me take a look at it; we'll see. On something like this it sounds like it's in court right now. But let me see if I've got anything more on it, Said.

QUESTION: Elizabeth, yesterday --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- you were asked about the demolitions of --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: -- homes in a Palestinian village. I'm wondering – today there were some more demolitions in the South Hebron Hills that included the demolitions of some EU-financed or donated buildings, and I'm just wondering if you have any thoughts on that.

MS TRUDEAU: We do, actually. We're aware of reports that the Government of Israel has demolished several EU-funded Palestinian homes in the West Bank. We remain concerned about the increased demolition of Palestinian structures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which reportedly have left dozens of Palestinians homeless, including children. More than 650 Palestinian structures have been demolished this year, with more Palestinian structures demolished in the West Bank and East Jerusalem thus far than in all of 2015.

QUESTION: Have you spoken to them about this?

MS TRUDEAU: I – we remain in close contact.

QUESTION: No, I know. I – yeah, but about this specific thing.

MS TRUDEAU: Well, what I'd say is the recent Quartet report itself actually highlighted. We believe that this is part of an ongoing process of land seizures, settlement expansions, legalization of outpost, denial of Palestinian development. We remain troubled that Israel continues this pattern of provocative and counterproductive action, which raises serious questions about Israel's ultimate commitment to a peaceful negotiated settlement with the Palestinians.

QUESTION: Okay. That's --

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah, we do remain in close contact. I'm not sure if this particular one has been raised.

QUESTION: My only – seriously, my only – yeah, okay. That's what I wanted.

MS TRUDEAU: Yeah.

QUESTION: You don't know if there's been any --

MS TRUDEAU: I don't know if we've raised this particular incident, but the question of demolitions has been raised routinely.

QUESTION: In general, yes. Okay. Thank you.

MS TRUDEAU: Okay.

QUESTION: I had this --

MS TRUDEAU: One last, Tejinder.

QUESTION: Yeah, I had this one lined up, that the – have you received anything officially from the – from Brussels, from the EU authorities about on this particular subject? Because there is a feeling there that the Europe builds and Israel is demolishing with the tacit support of the U.S.

MS TRUDEAU: I have no --

QUESTION: They have not reached out to you?

MS TRUDEAU: I have no communication to read out particularly on this.

Thanks, you guys.

QUESTION: Thank you.

(The briefing was concluded at 2:45 p.m.)

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[1] M1A2S

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