WASHINGTON: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Saturday that the State Department is voiding longstanding restrictions on how US diplomats and others have contact with their counterparts in Taiwan, another move that is expected to upset China as the Trump administration winds to an end.
The Trump administration has sought to strengthen bilateral relations with Taiwan. It announced Thursday that UN Ambassador Kelly Craft would go to Taiwan, a move that sparked sharp criticism from Beijing and a warning that the US would pay a heavy price. In August, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar became the first Cabinet member to visit Taiwan since 2014.
Pompeo said that the State Department has created complex restrictions when it comes to contacts between the two parties. He said those actions were taken to appease the Communist regime in Beijing.
鈥淣o more,鈥� Pompeo declared in a statement. 鈥淭oday I am announcing that I am lifting all of these self-imposed restrictions.鈥�

The Chinese government maintains that mainland China and Taiwan are parts of 鈥渙ne China.鈥� China has been stepping up its threats to bring the self-governing island under its control by military force with frequent war games and aerial patrols. It has been using its diplomatic clout to stop Taiwan from joining any organizations that require statehood for membership.
Pompeo said the US maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception.
鈥淥ur two democracies share common values of individual freedom, the rule of law, and a respect for human dignity,鈥� Pompeo said. 鈥淭oday鈥檚 statement recognizes that the US-Taiwan relationship need not, and should not, be shackled by self-imposed restrictions of our permanent bureaucracy.鈥�
Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu welcomed the move.
鈥淚鈥檓 grateful to @SecPompeo & @StateDept for lifting restrictions unnecessarily limiting our engagements these past years,鈥� Wu said in a retweet of a Pompeo tweet about the announcement.

鈥淭he closer partnership between #Taiwan & the #US is firmly based on our shared values, common interests & unshakeable belief in freedom & democracy,鈥� he wrote, drawing a distinction with China鈥檚 authoritarian one-party state.