Pompeo’s congratulations to Taiwan will have consequences, says China

Pompeo in a tweet said Taiwan’s democracy is a global inspiration.

China denounced US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo for referring to Taiwan’s leader Tsai Ing-wen as “president,” vowing to “take necessary countermeasures” in response.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo speaks about the coronavirus disease during a media briefing at the State Department in Washington, US. (REUTERS)

The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said a statement by Pompeo congratulating Tsai on her second term as president “seriously violated” the one-China principle and agreements that underpinned the establishment of relations between the two sides. While the US has carefully crafted interactions with Taipei to avoid recognizing its government, Pompeo’s statement Tuesday referred to Tsai as president and called Taiwan a “force for good in the world and a reliable partner.”

“China urges the US side to immediately correct its mistakes,” the ministry said in a statement posted on its website Wednesday. “The Chinese side will take necessary countermeasures to respond to the above-mentioned erroneous actions by the US side. And the US side should bear the consequences arising therefrom.”

Earlier in the day, Tsai urged China to “find a way to co-exist” with Taiwan’s democratic government as she was sworn in to her second term in Taipei. Tsai, who’s Democratic Progressive Party supports Taiwan’s independence, has sought to reduce the island’s reliance on China and build ties with the US