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 stress in opposition to Taiwan, together with two rounds of battle video games this yr.
China views Lai as a harmful separatist and on Friday urged Washington to train “utmost warning” in its relations with Taiwan.
Safety sources have advised Reuters that Beijing might maintain extra army workouts to coincide with Lai’s Pacific tour, which may also embody 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.
Talking to reporters earlier than his departure, Lai stated: “Thanks to the U.S. authorities for upholding the rules of security, dignity, consolation and comfort for serving to the sleek means of this journey.”
Hawaii Governor Josh Inexperienced stated in an announcement after he, the mayor of Honolulu and the town’s police chief greeted Lai on the tarmac of Honolulu airport, and that the assembly was a “momentous event,” 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 nice group 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 primary time that he was acquired on the airport, and a crimson carpet was rolled and flowers have been offered, which was the very best degree of courtesy ever, totally different from the previous mode of entry into the terminal; and the extent of the reception additionally exceeded earlier norms,” CNA stated.
Requested about this, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Division stated: “The transit is non-public and unofficial and squarely inside precedent.”
Afterward 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 Battle 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 usually on visits to far-flung allies within the Pacific, Latin America or the Caribbean.
“This journey is the start of a brand new period of value-based diplomacy,” Lai stated. “Democracy, prosperity and peace are the expectations of the folks of Taiwan, and they’re additionally the values that I, as president, should actively promote.”
He stated he would “proceed to develop cooperation and deepen our partnership with our allies and mates primarily based on the values of democracy, peace and prosperity, in order that the world can see that Taiwan shouldn’t be solely a mannequin of democracy, but additionally a key drive in selling world peace, stability, and prosperity.”
Hawaii and Guam are house to main U.S. army bases.
A couple of hours earlier than Lai’s departure, the US introduced a brand new arms sale package deal for Taiwan, of spare elements 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 beneath which it acknowledges Beijing diplomatically, the U.S. authorities is obliged by legislation to provide the island with the means to defend itself.
The State Division stated it noticed no justification for what it known 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.
