BEIJING — China urged the United States on Friday to show “utmost caution” in its relations with democratically run Taiwan, ahead of President Lai Ching-te’s sensitive trip to Hawaii and Guam this week as part of a Pacific tour. China, which considers Taiwan its own territory, opposes any international exchanges or trips by the island’s leaders, particularly those involving the United States. Lai’s week-long journey begins on Saturday, with a layover in Hawaii before visiting the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, three of the 12 countries with diplomatic links to Taiwan.

Toggle navigation. China wants ‘utmost care’ from the US ahead of Taiwan’s president’s Hawaii trip. FILE PHOTO: An anti-government protester raises a Taiwan national flag while an American flag flutters in the background during a demonstration to commemorate Taiwan’s National Day on October 10, 2019, in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui district, Hong Kong, China. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Updated on November 29, 2024 at 04:34 PM FacebookTelegram BEIJING — China urged the United States on Friday to show “utmost caution” in its relations with democratically run Taiwan, ahead of President Lai Ching-te’s sensitive trip to Hawaii and Guam this week as part of a Pacific tour. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, opposes any international relations or trips to the island.

China wants ‘utmost care’ from the US ahead of Taiwan’s president’s Hawaii trip. FILE PHOTO: An anti-government protester raises a Taiwan national flag while an American flag flutters in the background during a demonstration to commemorate Taiwan’s National Day on October 10, 2019, in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui district, Hong Kong, China. REUTERS/Athit Perawongmetha/File Photo Updated on November 29, 2024 at 04:34 PM FacebookTelegram BEIJING — China urged the United States on Friday to show “utmost caution” in its relations with democratically run Taiwan, ahead of President Lai Ching-te’s sensitive trip to Hawaii and Guam this week as part of a Pacific tour. China, which considers Taiwan its own territory, opposes any overseas relations or trips by the island’s leaders, particularly those. Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, reaffirmed President Xi Jinping’s remarks to US President Joe Biden at an Asia Pacific conference in Peru earlier this month, in which he stated that “separatist acts” were incompatible with peace and stability in Taiwan Strait. “If the United States wants to maintain peace in the Taiwan Straits, it is crucial for it to recognise the independence nature of Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities,” she said, referring to the government’s party.

The US must “handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence, and support China’s peaceful reunification,” Mao said during a daily news briefing in the Chinese capital.

China opposes Taiwan’s leaders’ “scurrying to the United States” in whatever form, as well as US support for separatist actions, she said. “China’s determination to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity and oppose interference in its internal affairs by external forces is unwavering.” Lai and his government oppose Beijing’s sovereignty claims, claiming that only the island’s people can determine their future. On Friday, while visiting a temple in New Taipei, Lai expressed excitement about his first foreign trip since taking office in May, which will take him to Taiwan’s three Pacific allies.

Lai stated that he would continue to expand partnerships with other countries and “keep Taiwan going out into the world” in a statement that made no mention of the US stopovers. According to Taiwanese and regional security authorities, China is likely to conduct military drills near Taiwan in the following days, using Lai’s journey to the Pacific and scheduled stopovers in the United States as pretext. Taiwan’s Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, told lawmakers on Thursday that Chinese military games in response to the trip were one possible possibility. (This story has been refiled to amend the preposition to ‘by’ rather than ‘on’ in the headline.) REUTERS