Taiwan says China’s threats over US president’s visit not beneficial Reuters
TAIPEI (Reuters) – China’s top policy official said on Wednesday that China’s military threats would drive the two sides apart, as state media in the island’s biggest neighbor warned of a strong response to a US visit by Taiwan’s president.
China, which claims democratic Taiwan as its territory, expressed anger over President Lai Ching-te’s weekend trip to Hawaii when he visited three Pacific nations that maintain formal ties with Taipei.
Lai, who is also due to spend one night in the US territory of Guam on Wednesday, is only doing what has been officially stopped. However, he spent two days in Hawaii where he met with the governor, gave speeches and visited the World War II memorial.
Security sources told Reuters that China could play new war games around Taiwan as early as this weekend in response to the trip.
Speaking to reporters in Taipei, Mainland Affairs Council minister Chiu Chui-cheng said Lai’s friendship-building trip is something the Taiwanese public supports.
“But the Chinese communists are threatening Taiwan with military bravado, which I think is something our citizens do not agree with,” he said.
“This will cause cross-border relations to remain distant, and that will not help relations in the future.”
The international community should take China’s military exercises and threats seriously, he added.
Lai and his government reject Beijing’s claims of sovereignty and say they have the right to communicate with the rest of the world.
China calls Lai a “separatist” and has staged two rounds of military exercises around Taiwan since taking power in May. Chinese soldiers are also working in Taiwan every day.
In a statement released on its website on Wednesday, China’s state television said that the real purpose of Lai’s departure is to “rely on America to seek independence” which shows that he is a real destroyer of peace in the Taiwan Strait.
“Lai is well aware that his ‘travel’ to the United States will have to meet strong opposition and strong measures from the country’s side, which will exacerbate the tense situation in the Taiwan Strait,” it said.
Taiwanese presidents routinely make transit stops in the United States on their way to and from allies in the Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean in what the United States says is a routine practice for security and convenience reasons.
Chinese state television said that was just an excuse for Taiwan to “allow” the trip.
“It is pushing Taiwan step by step into an even more dangerous situation,” it added.
