By Angie Teo, Ann Wang and David Brunnstrom
(Reuters) -Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te started a two-day U.S. stopover in Hawaii on Saturday as a part of a Pacific tour after declaring his democratically ruled island a key drive for selling world peace and stability.
China, which views Taiwan as its personal territory and opposes any international interactions or visits by the island’s leaders, has been stepping up army strain in opposition to Taiwan, together with two rounds of struggle video games this 12 months.
China views Lai as a harmful separatist and on Friday urged Washington to train “utmost caution” in its relations with Taiwan.
Safety sources have informed Reuters that Beijing might maintain extra army workout routines to coincide with Lai’s Pacific tour, which may even embrace a stopover in Guam, a U.S. territory. It’s Lai’s first international journey since taking workplace in Could.
After Hawaii, he’ll go to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 nations that retain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei and part of the world the place China has been exerting stronger affect.
Chatting with reporters earlier than his departure, Lai stated: “Thank you to the U.S. government for upholding the principles of safety, dignity, comfort and convenience for helping the smooth process of this trip.”
Hawaii Governor Josh Inexperienced stated in an announcement after he, the mayor of Honolulu and town’s police chief greeted Lai on the tarmac of Honolulu airport, and that the assembly was a “momentous occasion,” highlighting Hawaii’s shared values of resilience and collaboration with Taiwan.
Inexperienced later hosted Lai for an emergency administration briefing to debate dealing with pure disasters, he added.
Ingrid Larson, Washington workplace managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the physique that serves because the unofficial U.S. embassy in Taiwan, was additionally on the airport to welcome Lai.
Laura Rosenberger, chair of the institute, posted on X that “Ingrid Larson and the great community of Hawaii are excited to greet you!”
Taiwan’s official Central Information Company stated the welcome exceeded these of previous visits.
“President Lai’s transit was the first time that he was received at the airport, and a red carpet was rolled and flowers were presented, which was the highest level of courtesy ever, different from the past mode of entry into the terminal; and the level of the reception also exceeded previous norms,” CNA stated.Â
Requested about this, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Division stated: “The transit is private and unofficial and squarely within precedent.”
In a while Saturday, Lai will go to the usArizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor, which marks the resting place of a few of these killed throughout the 1941 Japanese assault that introduced the U.S. into World Conflict Two, CNA stated.
‘BEGINNING OF NEW ERA’
Taiwan presidents usually make use of what are formally solely stopovers in the US to fulfill pleasant U.S. politicians and provides speeches. Such stopovers are sometimes on visits to far-flung allies within the Pacific, Latin America or the Caribbean.
“This trip is the beginning of a new era of value-based diplomacy,” Lai stated. “Democracy, prosperity and peace are the expectations of the people of Taiwan, and they are also the values that I, as president, must actively promote.”
He stated he would “continue to expand cooperation and deepen our partnership with our allies and friends based on the values of democracy, peace and prosperity, so that the world can see that Taiwan is not only a model of democracy, but also a key force in promoting global peace, stability, and prosperity.”
Hawaii and Guam are house to main U.S. army bases.
Just a few hours earlier than Lai’s departure, the US introduced a brand new arms sale bundle for Taiwan, of spare components for F-16 jets and radars for an estimated $385 million.
Whereas it has solely unofficial relations with Taiwan and follows a “one-China” coverage below which it acknowledges Beijing diplomatically, the U.S. authorities is obliged by regulation to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
The State Division stated it noticed no justification for what it referred to as a personal, routine and unofficial transit by Lai for use by China as a pretext for provocation.
Taiwan’s authorities rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says it has a proper to interact with the world and for its leaders to journey overseas.
