TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo departed Taiwan Saturday afternoon (March 5) following a four-day stay.

Pompeo and his wife Susan boarded a flight bound for Singapore at 2:20 p.m. CNA reported. The two were sent off by Douglas Hsu (徐佑典), head of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' (MOFA) Department of North American Affairs.

Hsu reportedly walked the Pompeos all the way to the gate, where Mike Pompeo bade the press goodbye and told Hsu, “We will see you again.”

During his stay, Mike Pompeo met with top Taiwanese officials including President Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), who decorated him with the Order of Brilliant Star, and Vice President Lai Ching-te (賴清德). Pompeo attended a banquet with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu (吳釗燮), Legislator Lo Chih-cheng (羅致政), TSMC Chairman Morris Chang (張忠謀), and Continental Engineering Corporation Chairman of the Board Nita Ing (殷琪).

Pompeo repeatedly urged the U.S. government to recognize the “unmistakable, already existent reality” of Taiwan’s sovereignty. In reference to Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and tensions across the Taiwan Strait, he also called for deeper defense cooperation with Indo-Pacific nations that share similar values to deter bad actors.