Taiwan President in US for visit that violates China's core interests

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
30 Mar 2023 08:18

Tsai is stopping over in the United States en route to Central America, where she will meet with the leaders of Guatemala and Belize.

Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen arrives for her departure to New York to start her trip to Guatemala and Belize at Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan on March 29, 2023 (Reuters)

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen on Wednesday arrived in New York for a visit that has triggered warnings by China if she meets with House speaker Kevin McCarthy and warnings by the US for Beijing not to "overreact".

Tsai is stopping over in the United States en route to Central America, where she will meet with the leaders of Guatemala and Belize to strengthen ties with those diplomatic allies.

On her way back to Taiwan she will stop in California, where McCarthy had said he would meet her.

Beijing warned on Wednesday that it was vehemently opposed to any meeting between Tsai and McCarthy and vowed to take "resolute measures to fight back" if it goes ahead.

The United States responded by saying that China should not use Tsai's stopover as a pretext to "act aggressively" around the Taiwan Strait.

Xu Xueyuan, the charge d'affaires at the Chinese embassy in Washington, said she had spoken directly to US officials numerous times and warned them that Tsai's trip would violate China's core interests.

"We urge the US side not to repeat playing with fire on the Taiwan question," Xu told reporters, alluding among other things to last year's visit to Taiwan by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Tsai's trip follows Honduras' decision this month to open diplomatic relations with Beijing, leaving Belize and Guatemala among just 13 countries that have official ties with Taipei.

After first visiting New York, Tsai will meet with her Guatemalan counterpart Alejandro Giammattei and Belize Prime Minister John Briceno in their respective countries, her office said. She will then stop in Los Angeles on her way home.

McCarthy has said he will meet Tsai in his home state, although the talks are yet to be confirmed by Taiwanese authorities.

Diplomatic battleground

It is noteworthy that China has increased investment in Latin America, a key diplomatic battleground between Taipei and Beijing.

Taiwan accused China on Sunday of using "coercion and intimidation" to lure away its allies after Honduran Foreign Minister Enrique Reina and his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang officially launched relations in Beijing.

During the meeting, Qin formally invited Honduran President Xiomara Castro to visit China "at an early date."

The Honduran Foreign Ministry confirmed in a tweet Wednesday that Castro would "soon" make an official visit to China, with an eye on "signing auspicious agreements between both countries."

The move continued a trend in Latin America, with Nicaragua, El Salvador, Panama, the Dominican Republic, and Costa Rica all switching diplomatic recognition to Beijing in recent years.

In addition to Guatemala and Belize, Taiwan still has official ties with a handful of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Paraguay and Haiti.