The US Secretary of State announced Saturday that he is lifting all voluntary administrative restrictions imposed by Washington on Taiwan in order to please China.
The restrictions narrowed relations between US and Taiwanese officials. Reuters reports that their decision is likely to lead to an escalation of tensions between Beijing and Washington.
Although the United States, like most countries, does not have formal relations with Taiwan, it does support the island with arms sales, which China has consistently considered a part of.
Mike Pompeo In his announcement, he noted that the US State Department had been restricting its diplomats and other officials from maintaining contact with their Taiwanese counterparts for decades.
The United States decided to do this unilaterally to reassure Beijing. I acknowledge that I will lift all of these restrictions. The United States government maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception
Pompeo said.
Ambassador of the United States to the United Nations, Kelly Craft He will travel to Taiwan next week to negotiate with the island’s top officials. Beijing responded to the news on Thursday by saying Washington was “playing with fire.”
(MTI)
