Taiwan's Vice President (China) transits in the US, Beijing speaks out

On August 13, the Chinese Foreign Ministry condemned the transit of Taiwan's (China) Vice Leader Lai Ching-te through the United States, and declared that Beijing would take strong measures to protect its sovereignty.

Taiwanese (China) Vice President Lai Ching-te before departing from Taoyuan International Airport to attend the inauguration ceremony of Paraguayan President Santiago Pena, August 12. (Source: AP)

According to Reuters , Lai Thanh Duc was officially only transiting through the United States on his way to Paraguay to attend the inauguration ceremony of the host country's President Santiago Pena next week.

In a statement issued shortly after Lai Qingde arrived in New York on the evening of August 12, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed that Beijing "is closely monitoring developments and will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

Lai Ching-te, the leading candidate to become Taiwan's next leader in the January 2024 election, is expected to once again transit through the United States in San Francisco on his return journey on August 16.

On August 11, Reuters , citing unnamed Taiwanese officials, reported that China might use Lai Ching-te's transit through the US as a "pretext" to conduct military exercises near the island.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/pho-lanh-dao-dai-loan-trung-quoc-qua-canh-o-my-bac-kinh-len-tieng-238206.html