Beijing, Dec 6 (EFE).- China has accused the United States of facilitating “secessionist activities” by hosting Taiwanese President William Lai for layovers in Hawaii and Guam, sparking fresh tensions as Beijing lodges formal complaints over the controversial transit stops.
At a press conference, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China had lodged formal complaints with the US over Lai’s transit through the American territories. Lai’s South Pacific tour included visits to Taiwan’s allies, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau.
Lin claimed the US decision to allow Lai’s stops “provided a platform for secessionist activities,” labeling it “a serious violation of the ‘one China principle'” and a threat to China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“China firmly opposes Lai’s presence on US soil,” Lin said. “The Taiwan issue is the foremost red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations.”
Chinese authorities view Lai as a supporter of Taiwan independence and have labeled him a “troublemaker.”
In response to Beijing’s criticism, Lai defended Taiwan’s diplomatic engagements, stating that the island “has the right and duty to engage actively in global affairs and contribute to global well-being.”
During his stops in Hawaii and Guam, Lai met with various US representatives and officials, including Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, via phone.
Lai emphasized that these interactions “should not be seen as a provocation by any authoritarian country.”
The controversy coincided with heightened military activity near Taiwan, as Taiwanese authorities reported detecting 13 Chinese navy vessels in the vicinity of the island, the highest number since large-scale maneuvers in mid-October. Lai is expected to return to Taiwan later Friday. EFE
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