今天各大媒體報導美國副總統彭斯 (Mike Pence) 24日在華府康萊德飯店 (Conrad Hotel, Washington, D.C.)，就美國和中國關係發表演說，Remarks by Vice President Pence at the Frederic V. Malek Memorial Lecture， 提到：
“… through checkbook diplomacy, over the past year China has induced two more nations to switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing, increasing pressure on the democracy in Taiwan.
The international community must never forget that its engagement with Taiwan does not threaten the peace; it protects peace on Taiwan and throughout the region. America will always believe that Taiwan’s embrace of democracy shows a better path for all the Chinese people. (Applause.) ”
自由時報頭版報導 “彭斯挺台批中” “彭斯…指控中國利用「支票簿外交」利誘台灣邦交國改承認北京，而美國政府透過…支持台灣。”
英文 checkbook diplomacy 就是台灣數十年來習稱的「金錢外交」，按字面直譯為 *「支票簿外交」，殊不可取。
有人以為「金錢外交」英文是 *“dollar diplomacy”， 也同樣不可取。Wikipedia 在 Dollar diplomacy 詞條下還特別提醒 “Not to be confused with Checkbook diplomacy.” 「金錢外交/ checkbook diplomacy」是嘲諷、批判的貶義詞，Dollar diplomacy 則是美國 President William Howard Taft 任內的政策：
“In his message to Congress on 3 December 1912, Taft summarized the policy of Dollar Diplomacy:
The diplomacy of the present administration has sought to respond to modern ideas of commercial intercourse. This policy has been characterized as substituting dollars for bullets. It is one that appeals alike to idealistic humanitarian sentiments, to the dictates of sound policy and strategy, and to legitimate commercial aims.”
照 President Taft 的宣稱，“dollar diplomacy” 是具人道關懷的「金援外交」。(Jerome Su, Oct 25, 19)