China’s state-controlled media bristled with indignation and anger as the U.S. lifted decades-old curbs on diplomatic contacts with Taiwan. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who made the announcement was accused of “seeking to maliciously inflict a long-lasting scar on China-U.S. ties”. A report in Xinhua said Pompeo “is only interested in stoking unwarranted confrontations, and has no interest in world peace”.
Calling Pompeo’s announcement “a cowardly act of sabotage,” state broadcaster CCTV said the U.S. has “crossed a dangerous red line” with China days before incoming President Joe Biden takes office.
With less than 10 days to go for Biden’s inauguration, the outgoing administration of Trump seems hell bent on making it tougher for him. For several decades, the State Department had in place internal restrictions on diplomats, service members and other officials interacting with their Taiwanese counterparts.
“The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing. No more,” announced Pompeo. And to rub it in, Kelly Craft, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, will visit Taiwan this week.
