Taiwan Presidential candidate lands in New York on way to Paraguay

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
13 Aug 2023 09:17

The current Vice President, Lai Ching-te, of Taiwan, lands in the US in transit to Paraguay as US and China relations decline and tensions increase.

Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, delivers a speech during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 (AP)

On route to Paraguay, Lai Ching-te, Taiwan’s vice president and presidential candidate, arrived in New York, US, for a layover.

"Happy to arrive at the Big Apple, icon of liberty, democracy & opportunities. It’s very nice of [Taiwan’s representative to US Hsiao] Bikhim and [American Institute in Taiwan] AIT’s Ingrid Larson to greet me with a warm welcome at JFK airport," said Lai.

Moreover, the post noted that Lai is "Looking forward to seeing friends and attending transit programs in New York."

The trip allegedly includes another US stop in San Francisco on the way back from the trip to Paraguay, where Lai is attending the presidential inauguration.

This act has been met with strong disapproval from Chinese officials amid stark tensions with Washington over its ties with Taipei.

China, as it staunchly advocates for the One-China principle, has repeatedly voiced its concerns over other countries' official exchanges with Taiwan. This isn't the first time Taiwanese leaders have provoked China by making stopovers in the United States.

Lai is a candidate for the Taiwanese Presidency, wherein the elections will be held next year, which could give a political dimension to this trip and the transit stops in question.

The tensions surrounding Taiwan experienced a significant spike last August when then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi defied Beijing's warnings and traveled to Taipei. China condemned Pelosi's visit, interpreting it as an endorsement of separatism, and in response, launched large-scale military exercises near the island.