Taiwan's president to visit Pacific islands

22/11/2024 10:55

        Taiwan's presidential office said on Friday that President Lai Ching-te will visit Taiwan's Pacific island nation allies, which could mean he also makes sensitive transit stops in U.S. territory, a move which would likely anger Beijing. The office will hold a news conference on Friday morning about the trip, it said without giving further details. Reuters reported last week that Lai was planning to stop over in Hawaii and possibly Guam on the visit. Of the 12 countries which maintain formal diplomatic ties with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, three are in the Pacific - Palau, the Marshall Islands and Tuvalu. Taiwanese presidents usually use visits to allied countries to make what are officially transits in the United States, Taiwan's most important international backer and arms supplier, which frequently anger Beijing. On those stopovers, Taiwanese presidents often meet with friendly politicians and give speeches. China has ramped up its military activities around Taiwan in the pa
        st five years, including holding another round of war games in May shortly after Lai's inauguration it said were a warning to "separatist acts" Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says it has a right to engage with other countries and for its leaders to make foreign trips.