TAOYUAN, Taiwan — Taiwan’s president embarked on a journey to the South Pacific on Saturday, which includes a notable two-day stop in the United States. This marks his inaugural visit since taking office, although specific details about his travel plans remain largely undisclosed.
The planned layovers in Hawaii and Guam have sparked significant backlash from Beijing. The Chinese government views Taiwan as part of its territory and has voiced strong opposition to official interactions between the island and the U.S., Taiwan’s primary supporter and military ally.
Lai Ching-te’s week-long trip will see him visit three of Taiwan’s diplomatic allies in the Pacific: the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau.
Speaking at the Taoyuan International Airport before his departure, Lai stated, “I aim to use the principles of democracy, peace, and prosperity to further our collaboration with allies, strengthen our partnership, and position Taiwan as not only a model of democracy but as a crucial player in fostering global peace, stability, and development.”
Despite Taiwan’s robust relationships with numerous countries, it officially recognizes only 12 diplomatic allies. The self-governing democracy is currently navigating increased pressure from China.
It remains uncertain if Lai will have discussions with any incoming U.S. administration officials during his transit.
President-elect Donald Trump remarked in a past interview that Taiwan should invest in its own defense. The island has entered into contracts worth billions for U.S. defense systems, but Trump has been non-committal regarding the U.S. response to potential Chinese military aggression against Taiwan.
Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is obliged to support Taiwan’s defense; however, it has maintained a strategy of ambiguity regarding its commitment to intervening in the event of a Chinese invasion.
Anticipations are that a new Trump administration may further intensify U.S.-China relations, particularly after the previous administration imposed tariffs on over $360 billion worth of Chinese goods. Taiwan continues to be a key point of contention in the relationship between the two nations.
On Friday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning reiterated that the U.S. must be cautious in managing Taiwan-related issues to preserve peace in the Taiwan Strait. She emphasized the need for the U.S. to oppose Taiwanese independence and support China’s goal of peaceful reunification.
Mao expressed China’s strong opposition to any form of official exchanges between the U.S. and Taiwan, which includes visits by Taiwanese leaders.
Last year, the visit of former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to the U.S. as part of a trip to Latin America drew sharp criticism from Beijing, particularly when she met with Kevin McCarthy, the former House Speaker.
Following Lai’s stop in the U.S. while he was vice president, the Chinese military conducted drills around Taiwan, framing the activities as a warning against what they labeled as collusion between separatists and foreign powers.
Furthermore, China’s objections extend to visits by senior U.S. politicians to Taiwan, which they perceive as violations of their sovereignty claims. Washington formally shifted its recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.