Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged that the United States is “a good partner” to prevent China from taking over Taiwan by force.

“Our military has been very active in the region, ensuring that we have a presence so that we can ensure that there is, in fact, a capacity for a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Pompeo told the Nikkei Asian Review while traveling in Japan. “These are the kind of things one does. Whether it’s Taiwan or the challenge presented to Japan, the United States will be a good partner for security in every dimension.”