Visiting Taiwan, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tuesday, September 27 that the era of “blind cooperationwith China was over and Beijing’s growing ambitions in the region had brought like-minded nations closer together.
“If we want a free 21st century, not the Chinese century that Xi Jinping dreams of, the old paradigm of blind cooperation must end.“, he added during an economic forum in Kaohsiung on the island of Taiwan.
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“China’s aggressive conduct, diplomatically, militarily, economically…has changed this region. And it has brought even closer those who prefer peace and trade“, argued Mike Pompeo, who was one of former President Donald Trump’s most vocal advisers on China. China claims that the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan is part of its territory, to be recovered one day, by force if necessary. She rebels against any diplomatic action that could confer legitimacy on the island.
Mike Pompeo is one of the best-known American politicians in Taiwan, in part for his decision to lift restrictions around official contact with Taipei. Former President Donald Trump has been deeply ambivalent about China during his tenure, sometimes praising Xi Jinping’s strongman qualities while waging an aggressive trade war with Beijing and increasing official contacts with China. Taiwan.
Read alsoChina threatens ‘war’ in Taiwan
President Joe Biden has continued most Trump-era policies toward Taiwan. Washington has long maintained a policy ofstrategic ambiguityabout his possible military intervention in the event of an invasion of Taiwan by China. But Joe Biden began to back away from that position, saying in multiple interviews that the United States would come to Taiwan’s aid if attacked. After each of these statements, the White House assured in press releases that American policy vis-à-vis Taiwan had not changed.
Mike Pompeo, who since leaving office has advocated diplomatically recognizing Taiwan as a nation “already independent“, criticized Joe Biden’s remarks, calling them “confused and muddled statements“. “When it comes to America’s true commitment to Taiwan, the ambiguity that had been US policy has now become even more ambiguous. It worries me a lot“, he observed in his speech.