ウクライナの悲劇再現容認できず 台湾問題で前米国務長官

【ＡＦＰ＝時事】台湾を訪問中のマイク・ポンペオ前米国務長官は３日、蔡英文総統と会談し、台湾でウクライナと同じような悲劇的な状況を再現させてはならないとの考えを示した。（写真は台湾総統府でポンペオ氏〈左〉に記念品を渡す蔡氏。同府提供）
　中国による侵攻の脅威に常時さらされている台湾は、ロシアによる侵攻を受けているウクライナ情勢を注視している。
　ポンペオ氏は「もしわれわれの中に、自由を目指す上でのリスクについて誤解したり油断したりする者がいたなら、欧州で今何が起きているかを見さえすればよい」と述べ、自由を重んじる強力なリーダーシップが引き続き必要だと強調した。
　さらに、「最近の出来事を受け、自由が欲しいと公言することは挑発行為などではないということを、皆が改めて思い出すべきだと思う」と述べたポンぺオ氏は、「自由を破壊し、人々の生活を変えようと望む者」は、沈黙を「好機」と見なすと警告した。
　ポンペオ氏は昨年１月、米政府は台湾政府と公式な接触を持ってはならないとする制限を撤廃すると発表し、中国の怒りを買っていた。
　蔡総統はポンペオ氏に対し、台米関係における「数々の前進」に寄与したとして、その貢献をたたえる勲章を授与した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/03/04-13:23）

Taiwan must not be allowed to go the same way as Ukraine, former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday during a meeting with the island's president.
If any of us were mistaken or complacent about the risk to that freedom, I think we need only watch what's taking place in Europe today to see that this continues to demand deep concerted focus leadership from those of us who cherish freedom, Pompeo said in a meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen.
I think these days call for the simple reminder that it is not provocative to say that one demands freedom, he added warning that those who desire to destroy freedom, to change human lives will see silence as their opportunity.
Pompeo, one of former president Donald Trump's most hawkish advisors on China, arrived in Taipei on Wednesday for a visit at a time of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over the self-ruled island as well as the crisis sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
His visit comes a day after a separate trip by a delegation of former US security officials aimed at assuring regional allies that Washington stands firm behind its commitments.
Democratic Taiwan has watched the Ukraine situation closely, as it lives under constant threat of a Chinese invasion, with Beijing claiming sovereignty over the island and vowing to seize it one day -- by force if necessary.
Pompeo announced in January last year as the outgoing state secretary that Washington was ending restrictions on official contacts with Taipei island in a move that angered Beijing.
Tsai praised Pompeo for facilitating multiple breakthroughs in Taiwan-US relations after conferring him an honorary medal to recognise his contributions.
China has ramped up pressure on Taiwan since the 2016 election of Tsai, who rejects its stance that the island is part of Chinese territory.
Its sabre-rattling has increased considerably over the past year, with warplanes breaching Taiwan's air defence zone on a near-daily basis.
Just weeks before Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, China and Russia signed a joint statement agreeing to a host of foreign policy goals, including Taiwan being an inalienable part of the mainland.