Rai's 6-Night, 7-Day Tour of Pacific Island Nations
Visits Hawaii Think Tank EWC for Talks
China: "Cannot Shake the 'One China' Framework"
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has embarked on his first overseas trip since taking office, planning to transit through the U.S. territories of Hawaii and Guam. In response, China condemned the contact between President Lai and the United States as political manipulation and reaffirmed its opposition.
Taiwanese media, citing sources from the Taiwan Presidential Office, reported that during Lai's six-night, seven-day trip starting on the 30th, he will visit the Pacific island nations of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, with stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. This marks Lai's first overseas trip as president since his inauguration in May.
President Lai will depart Taiwan on the afternoon of the 30th, arrive in Hawaii on the 1st of next month, and stay there for two days before moving on to the Marshall Islands for a one-day visit. On the 4th, he will visit Tuvalu, then spend a day in Guam during a stopover, followed by a visit to Palau on the 5th, and return home on the 6th.
Taiwanese media expect that while transiting through U.S. territory, President Lai will meet with "laofengyou" (老朋友, longtime friends) and hold private exchanges and talks at the East-West Center (EWC), a think tank in Hawaii.
A source from the Taiwan Presidential Office stated, "Normal diplomacy has been ongoing for years, and this case is no exception," adding, "In accordance with precedent and the tacit agreement between Taiwan and the U.S., we will adhere to four transit principles: safety, dignity, convenience, and comfort."
Meanwhile, China expressed opposition to the contact between the U.S. and President Lai. Under the pressure of China's "One China" policy, Taiwan's diplomatic space is extremely limited. Taiwan has used the president's transit through the U.S. as an opportunity to strengthen relations with the U.S., while China has repeatedly responded with military demonstrations.
Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a regular briefing, "The Lai Ching-te authorities' so-called unofficial visits to 'diplomatic allies' to engage in political manipulation and provoke independence will not succeed, nor can they shake the firm international consensus upholding the 'One China' principle," adding, "The historical trend toward China's eventual reunification cannot be stopped."
He continued, "We have opposed any form of U.S. support or encouragement for Taiwan independence and separatist activities."
When asked about reports that military exercises might be conducted around the time of President Lai's Pacific visit, Mao declined to comment, saying, "That is not a diplomatic issue."
The Taiwan Ministry of National Defense responded to the possibility of Chinese military exercises by stating, "Deliberate attempts to create tension in the Taiwan Strait pose a real threat to regional security and undermine peace and stability," adding, "Such actions are unwelcome by the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the international community, and are not the behavior of a responsible modern state."
They also said, "The armed forces operate joint intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assets to closely monitor maritime and airspace activities around the Taiwan Strait and will deploy appropriate forces to respond."
Additionally, the Taiwan military conducted a preemptive nighttime live-fire exercise on Kinmen Island, located 4 km from Xiamen in Fujian Province, China, the previous night.
The Kinmen Defense Command issued a press release stating that the "Taiwu (太武) Exercise," an artillery firing drill simulating actual battlefield conditions, was conducted at the Houhu position in Jinning Township on Kinmen Island the previous evening. "Tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery were used to practice firing at air and sea targets. The exercise verified operational plans and live-fire effectiveness, and ensured troops were proficient in command and combat procedures, enhancing the unit's nighttime operational capabilities," it said.
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