Pompeo redo of Taiwan rules 'coward act of sabotage'

State media have lashed out at the latest move on Taiwan by the departing Trump administration, accusing Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of "seeking to maliciously inflict a long-lasting scar on China-US ties.''

Xinhua News Agency said in a commentary that the lifting of longstanding restrictions on US government contacts with Taiwanese counterparts proves that Pompeo "is only interested in stoking unwarranted confrontations and has no interest in world peace.''

A commentary posted online by CGTN, the English-language channel of state broadcaster CCTV, called Pompeo's announcement "a cowardly act of sabotage" of the next US administration.

"The Trump administration, in its continuing efforts to burn the house down before leaving office, has crossed a dangerous red line with China days before incoming President Joe Biden takes office,'' the commentary said.

There was no immediate comment from Beijing on Pompeo's decision to end State Department restrictions on how US officials can interact with Taiwan, which he said had been "implemented to appease the communist regime."

Pompeo added: "No more."

The declaration may be more symbolic than substantive in effect, but it nonetheless appears certain to anger China.

Taiwan welcomed the move. Hsiao Bi-khim, the island's diplomatic envoy to the United States, tweeted: "Decades of discrimination removed. A huge day in our bilateral relationship. I will cherish every opportunity."

Foreign Minister Joseph Wu said he was grateful and that the "closer partnership between Taiwan and the US is firmly based on our shared values, common interests and unshakable belief in freedom and democracy."

It comes in the final weeks of the Trump administration and at a time of heightened tensions between Beijing and both Washington and Taipei.

It was not clear what the change means in practice, with Pompeo saying executive branch communications with Taiwan will be handled by the American Institute in Taiwan, which is owned by the US government and serves as the de facto embassy.

Trump has sent multiple senior officials to Taipei over the past year as he clashed with China on a host of issues, ranging from its handling of the coronavirus pandemic to disputes over trade, security and human rights.

Pompeo's announcement also came after the mainland warned the United States it would pay a heavy price if its United Nations ambassador - Kelly Craft - made good on plans to travel to Taiwan on Wednesday.

Craft's scheduled three-day visit will come just a week before Joe Biden's inauguration as US president.

Editorial: Beijing can't wait to deal with Biden