Taiwan Vice President embarks on controversial US trip
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Taiwan's Vice President heads to the United States where he will be transiting to Paraguya to attend the country's presidential inauguration ceremony, stoking tensions with China.
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Taiwan's Vice President Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, cheers during a press conference in Taipei, Taiwan, April 12, 2023 (AP)
Taiwan's Vice President William Lai went Saturday on a trip to the United States over the weekend, further stoking tensions with China as the trip drew the ire of Chinese officials
The trip includes transit stops in New York and San Francisco en route to and from 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.
"Departing soon for #Asuncion to attend (president-elect Santiago Pena's) inauguration & convey to him & the people of #Paraguay the best wishes of (Taiwan)," Lai posted on X. "(E)xcited to meet with #US friends in transit."
Officials are "looking forward to welcoming" Lai, Laura Rosenberger, the chair of the American Institute in Taiwan said.
Only last week did China's foreign ministry urge US officials to "abide by the One-China principle and... to stop official exchanges between the US and Taiwan."
However, Taipei tried to downplay the trip and its significance; foreign ministry spokesperson Jeff Liu said there was "nothing special" about Lai transiting through the US on his way to and from Paraguay. He also explained that Lai was making the trip as Vice President rather than a presidential candidate.
While these are official stopovers, the visit provides an opportunity for Lai to meet with US officials despite Chinese warnings.
"China has no reason to overreact or take the opportunity to escalate the situation," Liu said. "If China decides... to take provocative actions, it is China, not Taiwan or the United States, that undermines the status quo of peace and stability in the region."
On July 6, Chinese President Xi Jinping called on soldiers to protect China's sovereignty and territory, telling them to strengthen war and combat planning to boost their chances of winning in actual warfare, according to state-run Xinhua news agency.
Meanwhile, Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu warned that a "Chinese invasion" of the island would have catastrophic consequences for the world citing Taiwan's strategic importance in the semiconductor industry and global shipping lanes.
Wu highlighted that any use of force against Taiwan would create far-reaching repercussions globally. He drew attention to the food and fuel shortages, as well as spiraling inflation, caused by the war in Ukraine as an example of the potential consequences.
Taiwan's location plays a crucial role in international security and prosperity, as more than 50 percent of the world's shipping containers pass through the waterway that separates Taiwan from mainland China.
Additionally, Taiwan holds a near-monopoly on semiconductor production, making microchips essential for the modern economy and defense infrastructure worldwide. Any disruption to the supply chain would have significant implications.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), to which Wu belongs, is seen as more pro-United States compared to the opposition Kuomintang Party. The current DPP administration, led by President Tsai Ing-wen, is in its final term and has been at odds with the Chinese leadership.
Bolstering Taiwan's ability to go to war with China, the US unveiled in late July a $345 million military aid package for Taiwan which allegedly included intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, and small arms munitions.
The package is to be drawn from the US' reserves and thus will allow for the equipment to be delivered at a faster rate than other military packages.
According to a Pentagon spokesperson, the package offered "capabilities that Taiwan will be able to use to bolster deterrence now and in the future," adding that elements of the package "address critical defensive stockpiles, multi-domain awareness, anti-armor and air defense capabilities."
