Taiwan urged China on Thursday not to overreact to President Lai Ching-te’s upcoming trip to three diplomatic allies in the Pacific, but the island’s foreign minister did not comment on media reports that Lai would also stop off in Hawaii and the U.S. territory of Guam.
Lai sets off on Saturday for visits to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, his first overseas trip since taking office on May 20.
“We call on Beijing not to use the long-standing practice [of Taiwan’s presidents traveling overseas] as a pretense to overreact, for example, by holding military exercises that risk destabilizing cross-strait relations,” Taiwan’s Central News Agency cited Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung telling lawmakers.
Lin’s remarks came after the Reuters news agency on Wednesday reported that China would likely launch military drills near the island, using Lai’s upcoming trip to the Pacific and a possible U.S. transit as a pretext, citing regional security officials.
RELATED STORIES
Taiwan to buy $2.2 bln of US weapons after Trump urged more spending
China to cut tariff exemptions on 34 agricultural items from Taiwan
China sanctions 9 US firms over military sales to Taiwan
China views Taiwan as its territory and it objects to any country or international organization treating the island as a separate state.
In particular, China objects to visits to the United States by Taiwan’s leaders, and to visits by U.S. officials to Taiwan.
China froze top-level military talks and other dialogue with the U.S. in 2022 after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking U.S. official in 25 years to visit self-government Taiwan.
China also launched intensive military exercises around Taiwan after Pelosi’s visit and has held frequent drills in the air and seas around the island since then.
Beijing has over the years successfully swayed several of Taipei’s diplomatic allies to shift their recognition to China. As of Nov. 28, only 12 countries maintained official diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Taiwan’s foreign minister declined to say if Lai would transit through Hawaii or Guam, but he said Presidential Office would make an announcement when the time was right, CNA reported.
Edited by Taejun Kang.