Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has arrived within the US state of Hawaii for a two-day go to, drawing a livid response from China.
The journey is being billed as a stopover as a part of a Pacific tour, however comes amid long-running tensions between the US and China and rising considerations about the potential of battle over Taiwan.
After arriving in Hawaii, Lai mentioned battle would have “no winners” and that “we’ve to combat collectively to forestall battle”.
China’s international ministry mentioned it “strongly condemns” the go to and that it had “lodged critical protests with the US”.
China considers Taiwan – which broke away in 1949 following the Chinese language Civil Conflict – to be a part of its personal territory, and opposes any diplomatic engagement with it by different international locations.
The US has lengthy maintained a intentionally ambiguous coverage in the direction of the island, declining to recognise its independence but maintaining informal relations with its government.
Talking earlier than his departure for Hawaii, Lai mentioned the journey marked “the start of a brand new period of value-based diplomacy”.
“Democracy, prosperity and peace are the expectations of the individuals of Taiwan, and they’re additionally the values that I, as president, should actively promote,” he mentioned.
He mentioned he wished to indicate the world that Taiwan is “not solely a mannequin of democracy, but additionally a key drive in selling world peace, stability, and prosperity”.
Talking at a dinner on Saturday attended by state officers, members of Congress, and Taiwanese residents of Hawaii, he added {that a} go to that day to Pearl Harbour – whose bombing by Japan in 1941 introduced the US into the Second World Conflict – had served as a reminder of “the significance of guaranteeing peace”.
“Peace is priceless, and battle has no winners. We now have to combat, combat collectively to forestall battle,” he mentioned.
The remainder of the journey will see Lai go to Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, the one Pacific island nations among the many 12 international locations that recognise Taiwan’s independence. He may also cease for one night time within the US territory of Guam.
In an announcement forward of the journey, a spokesperson for the Chinese language defence ministry mentioned China would “firmly oppose official interplay with China’s Taiwan area in any kind” and “resolutely crush” makes an attempt safe Taiwanese independence.
