U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the lifting of restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship on Jan. 9. In a subsequent interview, he said this wasn't a rash decision and it was carefully considered.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the lifting of restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship on Jan. 9. In an interview on Jan. 11, he said decisions including denouncing the arrests of pro-democracy Hong Kong activists and lifting the restrictions on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship were made after careful consideration in order to face up to the challenges posed by China.
Like I wish these things had been done a long time ago. These weren't rash, these were considered efforts that we made and they're an important part of the strategy that we've laid out with respect to how to protect and preserve American freedoms and these are the challenges that the Chinese Communist Party presents.
The Trump administration has taken many friendly actions towards Taiwan in recent months. Following the lifting of the restrictions, the U.S. Department of State announced that Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper met with Representative to the U.S. Hsiao Bi-khim in Washington on the morning of Jan. 12 Taiwan time. This was their second meeting. Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador to the Netherlands Peter Hoekstra met with Representative to the Netherlands Chen Hsing-hsing. They took a photo together, and he tweeted "made some history today."
We are so glad to see U.S. ambassadors and our representatives abroad stepping up related dialogue and interaction.
I think it's belated justice for Pompeo to cancel these restrictions on interaction with Taiwan. Now, we can make more high-profile, natural, and dignified visits to the White House, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense.
Former Deputy Representative to the U.S. and National Defense Minister Michael Tsai said he hopes the Biden administration will be as benevolent as the Trump administration. He added the lifting of restrictions will upgrade the bilateral relationship. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft is scheduled to visit Taiwan on Jan. 13. Civic groups are calling on President Tsai Ing-wen to urge Craft to allow Taiwan to join the UN. They also believe Taiwan and the U.S. should establish formal diplomatic relations.
美國國務卿龐佩奧，9號宣布解除美台交往限制，被視為雙邊關係的一大進展，龐佩奧11號接受訪問時表示，包括譴責港府抓捕泛民派人士，和解除美台交往限制，都是經過考量後的決定，要面對中國所帶來的挑戰。
美國國務卿 龐佩奧表示：「我很早之前，就希望這麼做了，這些並非倉促的決定，而是經過考量後，作為來捍衛，並維繫美國自由策略的重要一部分，以面對中共所帶來的挑戰。」
美國近期友台動作不斷，解除美台交往限制之後，國務院也再公開宣布，政軍局助卿庫柏要在台灣時間12號清晨，在華府與駐美代表蕭美琴進行會晤，這是蕭美琴上任以來，已知的兩人第2次會面。美國駐荷蘭大使胡克斯特拉更用行動響應，邀請我國駐荷蘭代表陳欣新會面，留下合影並稱這是創造歷史性的一天。
外交部歐洲司副司長 陳詠韶表示：「我們非常樂見，美國駐外的使館，跟我們駐外的使節，加強相關的對話交往。」
前國防部長 蔡明憲表示：「龐佩奧取消這樣對台交往的限制，我想是遲來的正義，我們可以更得高調的、自然的、更有尊嚴的，去到白宮，去到國務院，去到國防部去拜訪。」
曾擔任過駐美副代表及國防部長的蔡明憲認為，希望新上任的拜登政府也能從善如流，取消交往限制提升美台關係。週三美國駐聯合國大使克拉夫特即將訪台，民間社團除了希望蔡總統當面表達台灣入聯的訊息，更呼籲美國與台灣建立正式的外交關係。