Taiwan visit gives Mike Pompeo chance to tout credentials as China hawk ahead of possible presidential bid

Taiwan has honoured former US secretary of state Mike Pompeo during a visit to the island which may give him an opportunity to promote his credentials as a China hawk ahead of a possible presidential run. One of the island’s favourite US politicians, Pompeo, arrived in Taipei for a four-day visit on Wednesday along with his wife and aides. His visit came just as another delegation of former senior American military and security officials wound up a 30-hour visit to emphasise the US security commitment to both Taiwan and its allies amid the Ukrainian crisis. In a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen on Thursday, Pompeo, a staunch supporter of Taiwan, was offered a medal in recognition of his contribution to advancing US-Taiwan ties – an approach that had irked Beijing. Taiwan cuts funding for Olympic speed skater who wore China uniform “Just now, the Order of Brilliant Star with Special Grand Cordon was presented to Mr Pompeo for his contributions to advancing Taiwan-US relations. On behalf of the Taiwanese people, I hereby express my deepest gratitude,” Tsai said. “During his term, restrictions on contact between US and Taiwan government officials were lifted, arms sales were normalised, and mutual visits by higher-level US and Taiwanese officials were made possible. These measures all helped deepen bilateral interaction and cooperation,” she said. In response, Pompeo praised Tsai for being able to deliver freedom, prosperity and stability to the island’s public. “I can assure you that the American people stand with you in that very effort,” he said. Pompeo, currently a distinguished fellow at the Washington-based think tank the Hudson Institute, was secretary of state from April 2018 to January 2021 in which time he vigorously pushed for deepening ties and strengthening the US commitment to Taiwan’s security. Previous comments that Taiwan is not part of China also angered Beijing, which held him responsible for damaging US-China relations. Beijing has also time and again warned the US – which switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing from Taipei in 1979 – against having official contacts with the island. Pompeo’s visit is expected to be closely monitored by Beijing as the former secretary of state has been reported to have presidential ambitions. ‘Taiwan stands with Ukraine’: Tsai pledges month’s pay for aid work In Beijing, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said “Pompeo’s actions are shameless and must be futile” when asked to comment on the visit. On Thursday, local news media reports said three People’s Liberation Army warships were seen sailing 50 nautical miles (92.6km) southeast of Taiwan’s offshore Orchid Islands towards the Bashi Channel. Taiwan’s defence ministry later said all military activities around Taiwan were under its control. During his four-day stay, Pompeo is also expected to also meet Vice-President William Lai, legislative speaker Yu Shyi-kun and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu as well as local business leaders. He will also give a speech at the Prospect Foundation, a government-funded think tank, on Friday. Observers said Pompeo was reported to have electoral aspirations and during his visit he was expected to cultivate his relationship with Taiwan to increase his political capital. “He is given high level treatment in Taiwan – a US informal but close ally with bipartisan support from the American Congress – and this would help boost his political capital if he wants to run for president in 2024,” said Wang Kung-yi, director of the Taiwan International Strategic Study Society, a Taipei-based think tank. Wen-Ti Sung, a lecturer on international relations and China studies at the Australian National University, said Pompeo was one of the leading China hawks during Donald Trump’s administration. “For Pompeo, visiting Taiwan during the heat of the Ukraine crisis can show his support for Taiwan, as well as signal his confidence in Taiwan’s security. He can also strengthen his domestic political capital, especially within the Republican Party, as someone who is unafraid to stand up to Beijing,” Sung said. Taiwan hails arrival of US delegation as sign of ‘bipartisan consensus’ “For Taiwan, first, rolling out the red carpet for Pompeo shows that Taiwan reciprocates,” Sung said when asked what Taiwan could gain from the former official. “Second, Pompeo may still have future electoral ambitions at high levels, and strengthening ties at this juncture may prove to be a worthwhile investment in the future. “Third, Taipei has always wanted to elevate the protocol rank of US government officials that it directly interacts with, so as to show healthy US-Taiwan ties. Pompeo is a great figure for this purpose. “He is among the most senior former US government officials to publicly visit Taiwan in person in recent years, while his status as a former official may lower the political sensitivity and blowbacks from Beijing,” Sung noted.