US State Secretary Mike Pompeo congratulated Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-Wen on her re-election, praised the country's coronavirus response and called it a reliable partner, in a statement that sharply contrasted with recent criticism of China, which claims Taiwan as a province, according to Reuters.

“We have a shared vision for the region — one that includes rule of law, transparency, prosperity, and security for all," Pompeo said in a statement.

“The recent Covid-19 pandemic provided an opportunity for the international community to see why Taiwan's pandemic-response model is worthy of emulation.”