Taipei police have opened an investigation right into a threatening letter addressed to former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who arrived in Taiwan to satisfy with its management earlier this week.
The word—typed, unsigned and riddled with spelling errors—was obtained by the Prospect Basis assume tank, the place America's former high diplomat is scheduled to provide a 20-minute speech on March 3.
The letter in Mandarin described Pompeo as a "thug" and threatened to have him shot. It additionally requested the organizer to arrange a coffin.
Taiwanese authorities have coordinated with the U.S. for Pompeo's safety element, the Overseas Ministry mentioned.
The previous head of the State Division underneath the Donald Trump administration is accompanied on his journey by his spouse, Susan, and his high China adviser, Miles Yu.
Pompeo's go to to Taiwan had already been confirmed earlier than Russia's invasion of Ukraine, an ongoing battle that led the Joe Biden administration to dispatch its personal delegation of former U.S. officers to the island, a transfer that sought to reassure the Taiwanese public of America's assist amid issues that Chinese language chief Xi Jinping may copy President Vladimir Putin.
Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen thanked Pompeo for facilitating a lot of breakthroughs in U.S.-Taiwan relations throughout his time in workplace, together with the visits of cabinet-level officers and the normalization of arms gross sales.
"A go to from such an excellent good friend as Secretary Pompeo attests to the robust Taiwan-U.S. friendship," Tsai mentioned on the Presidential Workplace in Taipei.
In his remarks, Pompeo mentioned the battle in Europe demonstrated the necessity for "deep, concerted, centered management," earlier than stressing that American commitments to Taiwan had been bipartisan.
"I feel lately name for the easy reminder that it isn't provocative to say that one calls for freedom. Certainly, to stroll away from this stuff exhibit the absence of resolve, and that those that desired to destroy freedom, to alter human lives, will see quiet for the absence of direct language, recognition of the fundamental realities of the human situation, as their alternative," he mentioned.
"President Tsai, I am assured you'll not allow that to occur in your watch. I can guarantee you that the American folks stand with you in that very effort," he mentioned.
Earlier, Tsai had embellished Pompeo with the Order of Sensible Star with Particular Grand Cordon in recognition of his function in advancing bilateral relations. The award was additionally given to the late former Secretary of Protection Donald Rumsfeld in 2011.
His four-day itinerary included occasions with Tsai, Taiwan's Vice President William Lai, Premier Su Tseng-chang, parliament speaker You Si-kun and Overseas Minister Joseph Wu. He was additionally scheduled to satisfy enterprise leaders within the island's vital semiconductor sector.
In Taiwan's perennial debate about whether or not armed battle with China is a chance, most do not foresee it occurring within the close to future. The vast majority of Taiwan's public additionally stays assured in U.S. navy help, together with the potential of American troops combating alongside Taiwanese defenders, though their function—Military, Navy, Air Drive or Marines—is never mentioned.
Whereas some have watched occasions in Ukraine and drawn classes for Taiwan that embody the necessity for higher civilian mobilization in addition to a resilient spirit which may deter Xi, others align extra intently with Moscow and Beijing, blaming tensions on Washington.
Distinguished figures in Taiwan's reverse camps have described Pompeo's go to as the start of his marketing campaign to grow to be the Republican nominee for president in 2024. The senior diplomat was met by a bunch of round 50 demonstrators when he landed at Taoyuan airport late on Wednesday.
Some lawmakers accused of courting Beijing have opposed President Tsai's transfer to shortly facet with Washington in main worldwide incidents, together with the Trump-era commerce battle with China and now Biden's rallying of democratic allies towards Putin's battle towards Ukraine, for which Taiwan has condemned Russia and joined world financial sanctions.
In Taiwan's unicameral (single chamber) parliament earlier this week, legislator Fu Kun-chi of the principle opposition Kuomintang instructed Tsai's U.S.-leaning insurance policies had been pushing the island towards battle with China.
He raised the potential of Taiwan's "Finlandization," though there's by no means been any indication that such a stance would change the Chinese language management's calculations.
His suggestion sparked a shouting match with Su, Taiwan's premier and one of many founding members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Celebration, who rebuked Fu's "shameful capitulationism."
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