The former secretary of state ended his last visit with a controversial call for the U.S. to recognize the Chinese-claimed island as an independent country.
in early March, at the invitation of the Taiwanese government. His four-day visit, which included meetings with senior leaders and President Tsai Ing-wen, ended with an appearance at a think tank event, where he controversially called for the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between Taipei and Washington.
"It is my view that the United States government should immediately take necessary and long-overdue steps to do the right and obvious thing; that is to offer the Republic of China America's diplomatic recognition as a free and sovereign country," he said. Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo walks off stage after speaking during the American Freedom Tour at the Austin Convention Center on May 14, 2022, in Austin, Texas. Inset: Pompeo takes questions during a press conference on March 4, 2022, in Taipei, Taiwan.The U.S. broke off diplomatic ties with the Republic of China—Taiwan's formal name—in 1979, the same year it began formal relations with thein Beijing, a government that still claims the island as part of its territory.
While Washington doesn't recognize Beijing's claim over Taiwan, it has committed to maintaining only unofficial ties with Taipei under its" " policy. Pompeo didn't say whether he would campaign on a pledge to reverse four decades of U.S. policy if he were to make a bid for president in two years' time., local news outlets accused the Taiwanese government of failing to disclose details such as payment for the trip, or the former U.S. official's lobbying intentions, although neither practice was unprecedented.