The United States will remove all “self-imposed restrictions” on contact with Taiwanese officials, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced on Jan. 9, laying the groundwork for closer relations with the democratic island. The announcement, made during the final days of President Donald Trump’s term, marks the latest move to deepen ties with the self-governed island. The Chinese regime views Taiwan as part of its territory, to be brought into its control by force if necessary, and opposes any U.S. official contact with the island. The secretary lifted decades-old “complex internal restrictions” that have regulated diplomats, service members, and other officials’ interactions with their Taiwanese counterparts, according to a statement. “The United States government took these actions unilaterally, in an attempt to appease the Communist regime in Beijing,” Pompeo said. “No more.” He ordered executive agencies to treat so-called “contact guidelines” on Taiwan previously issued by the State Department as null …