TAIPEI, Taiwan – The death of Richard Armitage, a former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and long-time advocate for Taiwan, has drawn an outpouring of condolences and reflection across the island, where he was widely respected for his steadfast support for democracy and peace in the Taiwan Strait.
Armitage, a former U.S. official under President George W. Bush, died of lung disease on April 13, aged 79. He had served several defense and foreign policy roles that helped shape U.S. defense and security policy in the Asia Pacific.
“A long-time advocate for peace in the Taiwan Strait and a staunch supporter of Taiwan’s democracy, Armitage was a key friend to Taiwan and made significant contributions to U.S.-Taiwan relations and Indo-Pacific security,” Taiwan’s foreign ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.
Taiwan faces growing military and diplomatic pressure from China, which claims the island as its territory and seeks to isolate it internationally. Armitage’s advocacy helped keep Taiwan on the global agenda, strengthened ties with key allies such as the U.S. and signaled international backing for Taiwan’s democracy and security amid rising cross-strait tensions.
Over the years, Armitage maintained close ties with leaders across Taiwan’s political spectrum. He attended the inaugurations of both President Tsai Ing-wen and President-elect Lai Ching-te, and also held direct conversations with former President Ma Ying-jeou of the Kuomintang.
His bipartisan diplomacy also helped ensure continued dialogue between Washington and Taipei, regardless of Taiwan’s domestic political shifts.
“Armitage had bipartisan friends in Washington, as well as bipartisan friends in Taipei,” wrote Alexander Huang, a former senior associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a tribute on Facebook.
Beyond Taiwan
Beyond his ties to Taiwan, Armitage left a significant imprint on U.S. policy across the Indo-Pacific.
A U.S. Navy veteran, Armitage served three combat tours during the Vietnam War, working closely with Vietnamese forces. In 1975, as Saigon fell, he helped evacuate over 30,000 South Vietnamese refugees and naval personnel, leading them by sea to the Philippines and negotiating their safe landing at Subic Bay.
As a senior U.S. official, Armitage was a key figure in shaping the modern U.S.-Japan alliance. He co-authored bipartisan policy reports that guided strategic cooperation, encouraged Japan’s expanded security role, and supported updates to joint defense guidelines.
In the Philippines, he played a central role in negotiating the future of U.S. military bases, a critical issue for U.S. strategy in Asia.
He also played a key role in Korea policy, working with South Korea’s Kim Dae-jung administration while expressing skepticism toward the “Sunshine Policy.” He urged caution in tying political fate to engagement with Pyongyang.
Known for a firm but flexible approach, Armitage advocated diplomacy with North Korea while preparing for containment if talks failed. His 1999 “Armitage Report” shaped U.S. strategy, warning that no option – negotiation, sanctions, or force – was without serious risk.
Edited by Taejun Kang and Stephen Wright.
