President William Lai (賴清德) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today released statements to mourn the passing of former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage.
Armitage passed away on Sunday at the age of 79 after suffering a pulmonary embolism.
He was a "steadfast friend of Taiwan," whose "lifelong commitment to democracy [and] regional stability strengthened our ties,” the ministry said on X.
Photo: Taipei Times
“His legacy will endure [and] inspire future generations," it added.
Lai said he was "deeply saddened" by the news in a post on X, adding that "we will miss his genuine kindness and sincerity. He will always remain in our hearts."
Armitage served as deputy US secretary of state from 2001 to 2005, during the administration of former US president George W Bush.
He also served as chairman of the Project 2049 Institute, a non-profit research organization that promotes US values and security interests in the Indo-Pacific region.
Armitage personally attended Lai's inauguration last year, and met with former president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office in 2019 and 2021 as part of unofficial US delegations.
During the 2021 meeting, he described Taiwan as a "great democracy," as he reiterated to Tsai then-US president Joe Biden's commitment to continue supporting Taiwan.
Armitage remained concerned about China's military threats and coercive actions toward Taiwan right up until the end of his life, the ministry said in a news release.
“The more China bullies Taiwan, the more international support comes to Taiwan,” Armitage said in an interview with Voice of America last year.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) on Threads expressed her condolences to the "good friend of Taiwan" who she met during the Bush administration.
Whether in his military career or diplomacy work, he demonstrated courage and wisdom, making significant contributions to the steady development of US-Taiwan relations, she said.
He is survived by his wife Laura and eight children, the consulting firm Armitage International — of which Armitage was president and founding partner — said in a statement yesterday.
Armitage was not only a respected figure in the industry, but a kind-hearted man who adopted children from Vietnam and showed genuine care to his colleagues and friends, Hsiao added.
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