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China is vowing to counter a decision by the United States to lift self-imposed restrictions on contacts between U.S. diplomatic officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, while maintaining the unofficial relationship between the two democracies.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo referred to the self-ruled island as “a vibrant democracy and reliable partner of the United States” in a statement Saturday announcing the eased restrictions. US State Department Ends Restrictions on Contacts with Taiwan Officials
Pompeo says Taiwan is a ‘reliable and ‘unofficial’ partner
“The United States government maintains relationships with unofficial partners around the world, and Taiwan is no exception,” Pompeo said as he declared that all previous “contact guidelines” issued by the State Department involving Taiwan to be “null and void.”
A Yemeni boy walks past the rubble of homes destroyed by Saudi airstrikes. (Photo: AFP / Mohammed Huwais)
The Trump administration is about to commit an enormous crime against humanity in Yemen, one that could help trigger what the U.N. secretary-general calls “the worst famine the world has seen for decades.”
Mike Pompeo, the U.S Secretary of State, will declare that the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen is a “terrorist group” (according to a report in the
New York Times). The Houthis, who control a large part of their nation, are no threat whatsoever to the United States or to American citizens. Pompeo is making the declaration because the Houthis are backed by Iran, and Trump’s allies in Saudi Arabia and Israel want this declaration as part of their aggressive campaign against Iran.
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Middle-East Arab News and Opinion - Asharq Al-Awsat is the world’s premier pan-Arab daily newspaper, printed simultaneously each day on four continents in 14 cities
The United States is lifting self-imposed restrictions on contacts between U.S. officials and their Taiwanese counterparts, while maintaining the unofficial relationship between the two democracies.
The announcement comes after the Taiwan Assurance Act, requiring the State Department to reassess such restrictions on U.S. relations with Taiwan, became law in December 2020.
The latest move is welcomed by Taiwan but likely to anger China.
In a statement Saturday, U.S.