Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen bestowed a presidential honor on former United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday for his contribution in boosting relations with the island, as China's top newspaper lambasted him again by calling him as a "liar."
China placed sanctions on Pompeo when he left office at the end of the Trump presidency last year, angered by his repeated criticism of the country, especially its ruling Communist Party, and support for Chinese-claimed Taiwan.
Meeting Pompeo at the presidential office in Taipei, Tsai thanked him for his long-time support of Taiwan.
"A visit from such a good friend as Secretary Pompeo attests to the strong Taiwan-U.S. friendship," she said.
Tsai bestowed on him the Order of the Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon, one of Taiwan's top honors. Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld is another previous honouree.
Pompeo, wearing a face mask with the U.S. and Taiwanese flags emblazoned on it, said he was proud of his achievements while in office to try and normalize relations with Taiwan, including sending U.S. officials to visit.
"It is not provocative to say that one demands freedom. Indeed to walk away from these things demonstrate the absence of resolve," he said.
China put sanctions on "lying and cheating" Pompeo and 27 other top Trump-era officials as President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
China's top newspaper, the party's mouthpiece People's Daily, called Pompeo in a commentary on Thursday an "extremely notorious" anti-China politician who "took pride in lying and deceit" while in office.
"Collusion with external forces cannot bring security or well-being for the Taiwanese people," it said of his trip.
Donald Trump administration gave strong backing to Taiwan, despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties, including high-profile arms sales and visits by top U.S. officials to Taipei.
China has stepped up its military and diplomatic pressure against Taiwan over the past two years, seeking to force the island to accept its sovereignty.
Taiwan's democratically elected government says it wants peace but will defend itself if attacked and that only the island's people have the right to decide their future.