President William Lai (賴清德) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday mourned the passing of former US deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage.
Armitage, who served under then-US secretary of state Colin Powell from 2001 to 2004 and was known for being friendly toward Taiwan, died on Sunday at age 79 of a pulmonary embolism.
His death was announced by his consulting firm Armitage International in a statement issued on Monday.
Photo: Screen grab from the Presidential Office’s Flickr page
Armitage had long-held ties to Taiwan, visiting the country many times, most recently for the inauguration of Lai in May last year.
In a social media post, Lai wrote that he was “deeply saddened by the passing of Ambassador Richard Armitage, a true friend to Taiwan.”
“We will fondly remember his contributions to Taiwan-US relations and support for our democracy, just as we will miss his genuine kindness and sincerity,” Lai added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also mourned Armitage’s death, describing him as a “steadfast friend of Taiwan,” in a social media post.
“His lifelong commitment to democracy and regional stability strengthened our ties. His legacy will endure and inspire future generations,” it wrote.
In 2019 and 2021, Armitage met with then-president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) at the Presidential Office 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.
Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) on Threads expressed her condolences to the “good friend of Taiwan” who she met during the administration of former US president George W. Bush.
Armitage was not only a respected figure in the industry, but a kindhearted man who adopted children from Vietnam and showed genuine care to his colleagues and friends, she added.
He also worked as a senior US Department of Defense official during the administration of former US president Ronald Reagan and as a special envoy under Reagan’s successor, George H.W. Bush.
After leaving government service, Armitage worked as a private consultant for defense contractors involved in the sale of weapons to Taiwan, a 2008 Salon report said.
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