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Taiwan honors former US Secretary of State Pompeo, China calls him ‘liar’
The Arab News reported, citing Reuters, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen bestowed a presidential honor on former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday for his contribution to boosting relations with the island, as China’s top newspaper lambasted him again as a “liar.”
The report said, China placed sanctions on Pompeo when he left office at the end of the Trump presidency last year, angered by his repeated criticism of the country, especially its ruling Communist Party, and support for Chinese-claimed Taiwan.
Meeting Pompeo at the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai thanked him for his long-time support of Taiwan.
She said: “A visit from such a good friend as Secretary Pompeo attests to the strong Taiwan-US friendship."
Tsai bestowed on him the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, one of Taiwan’s top honors. Former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is another previous honoree.
Pompeo, wearing a face mask with US and Taiwanese flags emblazoned upon it, said he was proud of his achievements while in office to try and normalize relations with Taiwan, including sending US officials to visit.
He said: “It is not provocative to say that one demands freedom. Indeed to walk away from these things demonstrate the absence of resolve."
According to the report, China put sanctions on “lying and cheating” Pompeo and 27 other top Trump-era officials as President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
China warns USA against including Taiwan in its Indo-Pacific strategy
China’s top newspaper, the party’s official People’s Daily, called Pompeo in a commentary on Thursday an “extremely notorious” anti-China politician who “took pride in lying and deceit” while in office.
It said of his trip: “Collusion with external forces cannot bring security or well-being for the Taiwanese people."
The Donald Trump administration gave strong backing to Taiwan, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, including high-profile arms sales and visits by top US officials to Taipei.
China has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan over the past two years, seeking to force the island to accept its sovereignty.
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to visit Taiwan next week
Taiwan’s democratically-elected government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked, and that only the island’s people have the right to decide their future.
Source: arabnews
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