BEIJING/TAIPEI, Aug 13 (Reuters) – China on Sunday condemned a quick U.S. visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai, saying he was a separatist and “troublemaker through and through,” and Beijing would take robust steps to shield its sovereignty, drawing a rebuke from Taipei.
Lai, front-runner to be Taiwan’s subsequent president at elections in January, arrived in New York late on Saturday for what was formally billed as a transit stopover on his means to Paraguay for the inauguration of its president.
China, which claims democratically ruled Taiwan as its personal territory, has repeatedly denounced Lai’s journey, which incorporates one other stopover in San Francisco on Wednesday on his means residence.
The United States, like most nations, has no formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, however is its most essential worldwide backer and arms provider and is required by U.S. legislation to present the island with means to defend itself.
Washington walks a nice line in permitting such stopovers by Taiwanese officers, telegraphing help for Taiwan with out unduly angering China, which views them as provocative strikes towards independence.
China’s overseas ministry in an announcement issued shortly after Lai landed in New York stated it opposed any kind of visit by “Taiwan independence separatists” to the United States.
“Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence and is a troublemaker through and through,” the ministry stated.
Taiwan is the “core of China’s core interests” and details have proven many times that the explanation for the rise in tensions within the Taiwan Strait is Taiwan making an attempt to “rely on the United States to seek independence,” it stated.
“China is closely following developments and will take resolute and vigorous measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it stated.
Taiwan’s China-policymaking Mainland Affairs Council stated China was the actual troublemaker, pointing to its standoff this month with the Philippines within the South China Sea and continued navy harassment of Taiwan, amongst different actions.
Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai arrives at Taoyuan International Airport earlier than his departure to the United States for a stopover in New York on his means to Paraguay, in Taoyuan, Taiwan August 12, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins
“Our government firmly defends national sovereignty and security, guards the lines of defence of democracy and freedom, and will never back down, let alone capitulate,” the council stated in an announcement.
China particularly dislikes Lai, who has beforehand described himself as a “practical worker for Taiwan independence,” although he has repeatedly stated on the marketing campaign path that he’s not searching for to change the established order and that solely Taiwan’s folks can determine their future.
MILITARY DRILLS EXPECTED
Lai, greeted by supporters waving flags as he arrived at his New York resort, posted on messaging platform X, previously often known as Twitter, that he was “looking forward to seeing friends and attending transit programs in New York.”
Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a U.S. government-run non-profit that carries out unofficial relations with Taiwan, on X stated she would meet Lai in San Francisco.
China is probably going to launch navy drills this week close to Taiwan, utilizing Lai’s U.S. stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters forward of subsequent yr’s election and make them “fear war,” Taiwanese officers say.
The Eastern Theatre Command of China’s People’s Liberation Army, which is answerable for the realm round Taiwan, on Sunday posted on its WeChat account a brief video of fighter jets working towards canine fights at an undisclosed location.
It stated its forces had just lately been engaged in “high-intensity flight training.”
Lai’s stopovers come as Beijing and Washington try to enhance relations.
That features a doable U.S. visit by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, which might pave the way in which for a gathering between U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s chief Xi Jinping this yr.
Reporting by Ryan Woo and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Jeenah Moon in New York; Editing by William Mallard and Jamie Freed
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
