By Angie Teo and Ann Wang
Taiwan is a key pressure for selling world peace and stability, President Lai Ching-te stated as he left for Hawaii on Saturday as a part of a Pacific tour, thanking america for permitting him to cease over.
China, which views the democratically ruled island as its personal territory, has been stepping up navy stress in opposition to Taiwan, together with two rounds of battle video games this 12 months.
Safety sources have advised Reuters that Beijing could maintain extra to coincide with Lai’s Pacific tour, which incorporates stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, a U.S. territory.
Talking to reporters at Taiwan’s major worldwide airport outdoors of Taipei, Lai stated: “Thanks to the U.S. authorities for upholding the ideas of security, dignity, consolation and comfort for serving to the graceful means of this journey.”
Lai is stopping in Hawaii for the primary two nights, earlier than going to Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 nations which retain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei and part of the world the place China has been exerting ever stronger affect.
Taiwan presidents typically make use of what are formally solely stopovers in america to satisfy pleasant U.S. politicians and provides speeches. Such stopovers are sometimes on visits to remote allies within the Pacific, Latin America or the Caribbean.
“This journey is the start of a brand new period of value-based diplomacy. Democracy, prosperity, and peace are the expectations of the folks of Taiwan, and they’re additionally the values that I, as president, should actively promote,” Lai stated.
“I’ll proceed to develop cooperation and deepen our partnership with our allies and buddies based mostly on the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity, in order that the world can see that Taiwan just isn’t solely a mannequin of democracy, but additionally a key pressure in selling world peace, stability, and prosperity.”
Hawaii and Guam are dwelling to main U.S. navy bases.
Just a few hours earlier than Lai’s departure, america introduced a brand new arms sale package deal for Taiwan, of spare elements for F-16 jets and radars for an estimated $385 million.
China on Friday urged america to train “utmost warning” in its relations with Taiwan.
The State Division stated it noticed no justification for what it known as a non-public, routine and unofficial transit by Lai for use as a pretext for provocation.
That is Lai’s first overseas journey since taking workplace in Might. He returns to Taiwan on Friday.
Taiwan’s authorities rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says it has a proper to interact with the world and for its leaders to journey overseas.
This text was produced by Reuters information company. It has not been edited by International South World.
