Pompeo in Taiwan 'talking business'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Sep 2022 17:12
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The former Secretary of State has arrived in Taiwan, in yet another breach of China's One-China principle.

Mike Pompeo, former US Secretary of State

Former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, gave a speech in Taipei, Taiwan, on Tuesday night to give a keynote speech, according to CNA.

Addressing the Global Taiwan Business Forum, which would bring 300 Taiwanese businessmen together, Pompeo's trip would be the second to Taiwan less than two months after US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, angering China.

Pompeo, according to the Liberty Times newspaper, said he'd be discussing “seeing Taiwan’s post-Covid-19 pandemic business opportunities from the perspective of international economic and trade trends."

The former Secretary of State abused this opportunity to slam China. “China's aggressive conduct, diplomatically, militarily, economically... have changed this region. And it brought those who prefer peace and commerce even more closely together,” he said.

“If we want a free 21st century, and not the Chinese century, the century which Xi Jinping dreams of, the old paradigm of blind engagement must end."

He will also be visiting the World Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce.

Pompeo, furthermore, also met President Tsai Ing-wen during a March visit, stressing that the US should “take necessary and long-overdue steps to do the right and obvious thing, that is to offer the Republic of China (Taiwan’s official name) America’s diplomatic recognition as a free and sovereign country.”

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned the visit and described Pompeo as “a former politician with bankrupt credibility, and his nonsense is doomed to failure.”

A study in early August reveals that Taiwan depends more on China than it does on the US for trade.

Although the US recognizes Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China and maintains unofficial relations with the island, Taiwan’s business and economic ties with China, and additionally Hong Kong, have grown so large that China is by far considered its largest trading partner.

The analysis of data published through Wind Information indicates that China accounted for 42% of Taiwan’s exports, as opposed to the US’ 15% share. In total, Taiwan exported $188.91 billion in goods to China and Hong Kong just in 2021.

In addition, Taiwan’s exports to Southeast Asia were even greater than those to the US, amounting to $70.25 billion to the region compared to $65.7 billion to the US, as per the data.

US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s visit to the island, however, has left serious tensions in trade relations between China and Taiwan. The Chinese administration already took advanced steps to prepare the region during Pelosi's stay in Taiwan, such as in military drills, although it made a vow to reconcile with the island.