Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announces lifting of self-imposed restrictions in U.S. relations with Taiwan.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo released a statement Saturday (Jan. 9) lifting self-imposed restrictions in the U.S. relationship with Taiwan.
In the statement, Pompeo said, “Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and a reliable partner of the United States, but the State Department has for decades established complex internal restrictions governing the interaction of our diplomats, military personnel and other officials with their Taiwanese counterparts. By taking these actions unilaterally, the U.S. government is attempting to appease the communist regime in Beijing. No more of that.”
The statement said, “I am announcing today the removal of all these self-imposed restrictions. Executive branch departments should consider the State Department’s previous ‘engagement guidance’ on relations with Taiwan, issued under the authority of the Secretary of State, to be null and void. In addition, any and all sections of the Foreign Affairs Guide or Foreign Affairs Manual that authorize or purport to govern the Executive Branch’s contacts with Taiwan through any entity other than the American Institute in Taiwan are therefore also null and void. Under the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act, the Executive Branch’s relations with Taiwan are to be handled through the non-profit AIT.”
The statement noted, “The U.S. government maintains engagement with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception. Our two democracies share the common values of individual liberty, the rule of law and respect for human dignity. Today’s statement recognizes that the U.S.-Taiwan relationship need not and should not be self-imposed by our permanent bureaucracy.”
Recent Comments