Pompeo will visit Voice of America’s Washington, D.C. headquarters at 3 p.m. today to address all employees of the U.S. General Administration for Global Media (USAGM). In his remarks, Pompeo will address the importance of U.S. foreign broadcasting in the face of threats to American values and U.S. interests from the Chinese Communist Party, VOA reports.
In his speech, Pompeo spoke of the founding principles of the United States, that all people have God-given rights, and that it is the government’s job to protect those human rights.
And the Voice of America needs to get the voice of America, Pompeo said, out to any part of the world, and he stressed that the media should report real news, not to give Beijing, or Iran, a platform; and not to broadcast fake news, which is what makes us great.
He also said that big technology companies like Twitter and Apple cannot censor speech and suppress freedom of expression, because such practices are contrary to the founding principles of the United States and to the ideas that the United States promotes around the world.
Pompeo said that the Chinese Communist Party is indeed the greatest threat to the United States because it runs counter to Western humanitarianism and values. This can be seen from the Chinese Communist Party in Hong Kong, Xinjiang and other issues; so the Chinese Communist Party should be treated with a “distrust, de-certification” attitude.
Pompeo also said, tough on the Chinese Communist Party, the Trump administration has laid the foundation, this is a bipartisan consensus, he expressed hope that the next administration supports religious freedom, support democracy.
Pompeo’s speech was followed by a conversation with Voice of America Director Robert Riley.
The US General Administration of Global Media consists of five news agencies: Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Cuban Broadcasting Office, Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting Network.
Chinese Communist Party reacts sharply to removal of U.S. restrictions on Taiwan contacts
Over the past few days, the United States has made successive moves to crack down on the Chinese Communist Party. On Saturday (9), Pompeo announced the removal of long-standing U.S. restrictions on U.S.-Taiwan relations, which was seen as a major development in bilateral relations in recent years. The statement said that all previous guidelines on Taiwan contacts issued by the State Department in the name of the Secretary of State can now be considered null and void by the executive branch.
This is to lift the 2015 President Barack Obama administration issued the “guidelines for engagement with Taiwan” administrative memorandum, which prohibits Taiwan’s representative office personnel in the U.S. from entering the State Department building, prohibits Taiwan from raising the flag at Twin Oaks, the U.S. government agencies are also not allowed to display the flag of the Republic of China.
Pompeo said in the statement that Taiwan is a trusted partner of the United States. But over the past decades, the U.S. has set complex internal restrictions regulating diplomatic officials, other civil servants and Taiwan to comply with these restrictions when interacting with them. The U.S. did so “in an attempt to appease the Chinese Communist regime, but no longer does so.”
Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Wu Chiu-sup said this is a major event for the enhancement of Taiwan-U.S. relations and that “the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sincerely welcomes and appreciates the U.S. approach and expresses its high appreciation to the U.S. members of Congress who have long pushed for the easing or lifting of restrictions on Taiwan-U.S. interactions.”
The Chinese Communist Party reacted strongly, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian saying that “Pompeo’s stream” should “stop manipulating Taiwan-related issues” “or they will be severely punished by the world”. The Chinese Communist Party media Global Times threatened the DPP not to follow the U.S. move, otherwise it would be “the last days of the DPP regime’s existence,” adding that if Pompeo is allowed to visit Taiwan before the end of his term, “Beijing’s reaction will be overwhelming.
State Department spokesman Morgan Ortagus shot back, “Sorry, Global Times, you’re wrong again!” “There are no plans to travel to Taiwan this week, but we will continue to consistently support Taiwan as a successful market economy, a vibrant democracy, and a force for good in the world.”
Ortaghs said, “The Chinese Communist Party must act responsibly and stop believing the lies they [the Chinese Communist Party] propagate themselves. Their nervous panic diplomacy is unfounded and dangerous.”
U.S. looking at further action against CCP
On the same day (9), the U.S. issued a joint statement with the foreign ministers of three allied countries expressing serious concern about the mass arrests of pan-democrats by Hong Kong authorities.
White House National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien said in a statement that the U.S. is considering further action in response to the indiscriminate arrests of pro-democracy activists by Beijing and Hong Kong authorities using national security laws and the continued concealment of the origin of the new coronavirus by the Chinese Communist Party.
The United States is the first major power to have the courage and determination to speak frankly about the true nature of the Chinese Communist regime,” he said. It is critical that all nations of the world hold Beijing accountable. The world cannot continue to pay a heavy price for Beijing’s irresponsible and harmful behavior, whether it is its termination of the rule of law in Hong Kong or its failure to cooperate with international health officials on the new pandemic, in a naive manner or even with its complicity. The United States is considering further action in response.”
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Visits Taiwan This Week to Meet with Tsai Ing-wen
Pompeo also announced last week that U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft will visit Taiwan. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Wu Chiu-sup told the media today (11) that Craft visited Taiwan this Wednesday (13) to Friday (15) and met with President Tsai Ing-wen on the 14th.
He added that Craft’s visit to Taiwan is mainly to discuss how to promote Taiwan’s participation in international organizations, which is important to Taiwan.
Pompeo also tweeted on Friday (8) that “we stand with our friends in Taiwan, over the past 3 years, the Trump administration has made more than $15 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, and the Obama administration has made $14 billion in 8 years.” The posting note to “do the math”, and in the tweet posted the Republic of China National Army photos.
Pompeo: without religious freedom terrorism and violence will increase
In addition, Pompeo sent a series of tweets last Thursday (Jan. 7) and Friday (Jan. 8) to emphasize the importance of religious freedom. He said, “Upholding the right to religious freedom is a moral and national security imperative. Where there is no religious freedom, terrorism and violence increase. Our support for religious groups abroad helps ensure that Americans are protected and prosperous at home.”
He added, “Defending human dignity, particularly religious freedom, remains at the heart of U.S. foreign policy.”
Pompeo met on December 3, 2020 with representatives of Tibet, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Hong Kong and Falun Gong groups that have suffered severe persecution by the Chinese Communist Party.
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