TAIPEI: 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鈥檚 top newspaper lambasted him again as a 鈥渓iar.鈥�
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.
鈥淎 visit from such a good friend as Secretary Pompeo attests to the strong Taiwan-US friendship,鈥� she said.
Tsai bestowed on him the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, one of Taiwan鈥檚 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.
鈥淚t is not provocative to say that one demands freedom. Indeed to walk away from these things demonstrate the absence of resolve,鈥� he said.
China put sanctions on 鈥渓ying and cheating鈥� Pompeo and 27 other top Trump-era officials as President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
China鈥檚 top newspaper, the party鈥檚 official People鈥檚 Daily, called Pompeo in a commentary on Thursday an 鈥渆xtremely notorious鈥� anti-China politician who 鈥渢ook pride in lying and deceit鈥� while in office.
鈥淐ollusion with external forces cannot bring security or well-being for the Taiwanese people,鈥� it said of his trip.
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.
Taiwan鈥檚 democratically-elected government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked, and that only the island鈥檚 people have the right to decide their future.