Pompeo Reiterates That Taiwan Is An Independent Country

In the first “Global Taiwan Business Forum” held in Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s significant business leaders gathered to discuss global strategies and supply chain restructuring among other topics. Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also invited, who delivered a 20-minute speech on the topic over Taiwan’s post-pandemic new business opportunities from the world’s economic and trade trends. In addition, Taiwanese Vice President Lai Ching-te also delivered a speech.

Pompeo said that he is very happy to come to Kaohsiung. He is the first to visit this beautiful island among the former and current US Secretaries of State. He looks forward to meeting more Taiwanese friends in the coming few days.

Pompeo pointed out that some people are not happy to see Americans coming to Taiwan to celebrate their cherished friendship, and even believe that Taiwan is not free but part of the People’s Republic of China. But he has a different point of view, as Taiwan’s past and present leaders have said, Taiwan does not need to declare independence because it is already an independent country. Pompeo said that one of the proudest things he did as secretary of state was to make the government and people of the U.S. more aware of this political and diplomatic reality.Pompeo stressed no American would now mistake Communist China and Taiwan for the same country, because one is free and one is not, one is an ally of the United States and the other is an oppressive adversary.Pompeo served as the 70th Secretary of State of the United States during the Trump administration from 2018 to 2021. He has a clear stand in support of Taiwan, and even lifted the long-standing restrictions on exchanges between Taiwan and the United States on the eve of leaving office. Pompeo visited Taiwan for the first time in early March this year and met with President Tsai Ing-wen in Taipei. In his public speech, he called on the U.S. to recognize Taiwan diplomatically. The visit, being the second one in just half a year shows the degree of his love and support for Taiwan.