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Taiwanese presidents normally use visits to allied international locations to make what are formally stop-overs in the USA, Taiwan’s most necessary worldwide backer and arms provider, which regularly anger Beijing
TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will go to Taipei’s three remaining diplomatic allies within the Pacific on a visit beginning on the finish of the month, his workplace stated on Friday, November 22, however the authorities declined to offer particulars on US transit stops.
Taiwanese presidents normally use visits to allied international locations to make what are formally stop-overs in the USA, Taiwan’s most necessary worldwide backer and arms provider, which regularly anger Beijing.
On two events prior to now two years China staged army drills round Taiwan after presidential or vice-presidential stopovers in the USA.
On these stopovers, Taiwanese presidents typically meet with pleasant politicians and provides speeches. Reuters reported final week that Lai was planning to cease off in Hawaii and perhaps the US territory of Guam whereas he was within the Pacific.
Requested repeatedly by reporters at a information convention for particulars on the cease overs, Deputy Taiwan International Minister Tien Chung-kwang stated they have been within the planning levels and could be introduced at an “acceptable time”.
“However there’s a precept, which is that they’re dealt with with security, dignity, comfort and luxury” in thoughts, stated Tien.
China will do all it could possibly to stymie the journey — Lai’s first overseas since being inaugurated in Might — however Taiwan gained’t be deterred, he added.
“We gained’t dance to their tune. We are going to do what we now have to do and what we plan.”
Two sources accustomed to the state of affairs stated particulars of the US a part of the journey would possible solely come a day or so earlier than Lai departed.
China’s overseas ministry didn’t reply to a request for remark.
Of the 12 international locations which keep formal diplomatic ties with Chinese language-claimed Taiwan, three are within the Pacific — Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu — and Lai will go to all of them ranging from November 30, his workplace stated.
His official schedule has him then arriving within the Marshall Islands solely within the following week, on December 3, with out saying the place he could be within the intervening interval.
The Pacific island nations visits are additionally necessary as China is competing for affect with the USA there and has been step by step whittling away on the variety of international locations within the area who retain ties with Taiwan. In January, tiny Nauru switched relations again to Beijing.
Palau, Marshall Islands, and Tuvalu all put out statements on Friday saying they welcomed Lai’s go to.
“As a long-term accomplice and good pal of the Marshall Islands, we sit up for the warmly receiving President Lai,” the workplace of President Hilda Heine stated on its Fb web page.
China has ramped up its army actions round Taiwan prior to now 5 years, together with holding one other spherical of battle video games final month it stated have been a warning to “separatist acts”.
Taiwan’s authorities rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says it has a proper to have interaction with different international locations and for its leaders to make overseas journeys.
In August of final yr, China held a day of army drills round Taiwan after then-vice president Lai returned from the USA, the place he formally made solely stopovers however gave speeches on his option to and from Paraguay.
In April of final yr, China additionally held battle video games round Taiwan in anger at a US journey by then-president Tsai Ing-wen, who met then-US Home of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles. In 2017 and 2019, Tsai stopped in Hawaii throughout her visits to Pacific allies. – Rappler.com
