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Taiwanese presidential contender William Lai’s planned visit to US leads Beijing to lodge formal protest
- The foreign ministry said there would be a ‘strong and resolute’ response if Lai, the current front runner, stops over in the US en route to Paraguay
- Taiwanese government said a visit by Lai, the candidate of the independence-leaning DPP, would be in line with usual practice
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Beijing has lodged a formal protest with Washington over a planned visit to the United States next month by Taiwanese presidential hopeful and vice-president William Lai Ching-te, vowing “strong and resolute” action in response.
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When asked on Monday about the planned stopover by Lai, the candidate of the independence-leaning Democratic Progressive Party, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Beijing has made “solemn representations” to the US.
“China firmly opposes any form of official US-Taiwan interactions, firmly opposes Taiwan independence separatists visiting the US under any name or reason and firmly opposes the US indulging and supporting Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist actions in any form,” she told a news briefing in Beijing.
“China will closely monitor the situation and take strong and resolute measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Taipei has confirmed that Lai will pass through the US in mid-August en route to Paraguay for the inauguration of the new president Santiago Pena.
In response, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Beijing on Monday against using the transit as a “pretext for provocative action”, calling it a “common practice”.
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