China urges the US to be extremely careful before the trip of the president of Taiwan to Hawaii

Lai’s week-long trip begins Saturday, making a so-called official stop first in Hawaii before heading to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries that have official ties with Taiwan.

It will also stop in the US territory of Guam.

Mao Ning, a spokesman for China’s foreign ministry, echoed comments made by President Xi Jinping to US President Joe Biden at the Asia-Pacific Summit in Peru this month, in which he said “separatist actions” were incompatible with peace and stability in Taiwan. Strait.

“If the United States wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait, it is imperative for the United States to recognize the independent nature of Lai Ching-te and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party,” she said, referring to Taiwan’s ruling party.

The United States should “handle the Taiwan issue with utmost care, unequivocally oppose Taiwan’s independence and support the peaceful reunification of China,” Mao added at a daily briefing in the Chinese capital.

China opposes any “rush to the United States” by Taiwan’s leaders in any form or any US support for separatist activities, she said.

“China’s determination to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and resist the interference of foreign powers in its internal affairs is unwavering.”

A State Department official said every democratically elected president of Taiwan has transited through the United States, with former Taiwanese president Tsai Ing-wen making seven foreign trips with U.S. transit, while her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou also transited several times, both through Hawaii. twice.

The official said that, as in past transits, Lai will be met in Hawaii by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the Washington office of the American Institute in Taiwan, which is the unofficial US embassy in Taiwan.

Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told lawmakers on Thursday that Chinese military exercises in response to Lai’s trip were one possible scenario.

Lai and his government reject Beijing’s claims to sovereignty, 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 “continue to bring Taiwan to the world,” according to a statement from the president’s office, which did not mention the U.S. stops.