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The era of “blind engagement” with China is coming to an end, according to former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who also noted that Beijing’s rising assertiveness has brought like-minded nations closer together. Pompeo is the most recent in a recent wave of Western politicians to visit Taiwan, frequently infuriating Beijing. Pompeo is one of former president Donald Trump’s most hawkish counselors on China.
President Xi Jinping is anticipated to win an unprecedented third term at a significant gathering of Chinese Communist Party officials next month, which coincides with Pompeo’s visit.
Pompeo described Xi’s ten years in power as a turning point in relations with Beijing and Washington, as well as many of China’s neighbors, in a speech to a business forum in the city of Kaohsiung.
“China’s assertive behavior has altered this region on a diplomatic, military, and economic level. Additionally, it drew those who favor peace and commerce even closer together “said he.
“The old paradigm of blind engagement must end if we want a free 21st century, and not the Chinese hundred years, the century that Xi Jinping dreams of,” he continued, praising nations like Japan and Australia for increasing their defense spending.
Under Trump, Washington increased its official contacts with Taiwan, particularly as its relations with Beijing deteriorated toward the end of his four-year presidency.
One of the main architects of that later, more hawkish phase was Pompeo.
If China invaded Taiwan, Washington has long maintained a position of “strategic ambiguity” regarding whether it would use force to stop it.
President Joe Biden has started to take a position that is less ambiguous, stating repeatedly in interviews that the US would defend Taiwan in the event of an attack.
Biden’s “muddled and confusing statements” were criticized by Pompeo, who since leaving office has argued for diplomatically recognizing Taiwan as an “already independent” country.
“America’s policy has always been ambiguous, but it is now even less clear how committed the country is to Taiwan. This worries me a lot, “On Tuesday, he stated.
