Lai’s weeklong trip begins Saturday, making what is officially called a stopover first in Hawaii before traveling to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of 12 countries that have formal ties with Taiwan .
It will also make a stopover in the American territory of Guam.
Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, reiterated comments made by President Xi Jinping to U.S. President Joe Biden at an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru this month, in which he said the “separatist acts” were incompatible with peace and stability in Taiwan. Detroit.
“If the United States wants to maintain peace across the Taiwan Strait, it is crucial that it recognizes the pro-independence character of Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities,” she said, referring to the ruling party in Taiwan.
The United States should “treat the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose Taiwan’s independence, and support China’s peaceful reunification,” Mao added at a daily press briefing in the Chinese capital.
China opposes any “rush to the United States” by Taiwanese leaders in any form or any U.S. support for separatist activities, she said.
“China’s determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose interference by external forces in its internal affairs is unwavering.”
The State Department spokesperson said all of Taiwan’s democratically elected presidents have transited through the United States, with former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen making seven overseas trips with U.S. transits, while his predecessor Ma Ying-jeou had also transited several times, both passing through Hawaii. twice.
The official said that, as in previous transits, Lai would be greeted in Hawaii by Ingrid Larson, executive director of the Washington office of the American Institute in Taiwan, the body that serves as the unofficial U.S. embassy in Taiwan.
Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told lawmakers Thursday that Chinese war drills in response to Lai’s trip were one possible scenario.
Lai and his government reject Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s residents can decide their future.
Visiting a temple in New Taipei on Friday, Lai said he was looking forward to visiting Taiwan’s three Pacific allies, in his first overseas visit since taking office in May.
Lai said he would continue to deepen partnerships with other countries and “enable Taiwan to open up to the world,” the presidential office said in a statement that did not mention the U.S. stops.
