Pompeo urges Washington to recognize Taiwan as sovereign nation

Former top U.S. diplomat says the island is already independent

20220304 Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gives a speech in Taipei

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo gives a speech in Taipei, Taiwan, March 4, 2022. © Reuters

LAULY LI and CHENG TING-FANG, Nikkei staff writers, and THOMPSON CHAU, Contributing writer

March 4, 2022 13:50 JST

TAIPEI -- On his first ever trip to Taipei, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Friday said the U.S. should formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation while continuing to diplomatically engage with China.

"The United States government should immediately take necessary and long overdue steps to do the right and obvious thing which is to offer the Republic of China (Taiwan) America's diplomatic recognition as a free and sovereign country," Pompeo said in a speech, referring to Taiwan's formal name.