Taiwan's Vice President Transits in the US, Beijing Speaks Out

China's Foreign Ministry on August 13 condemned Taiwan Vice President Lai Qingde's transit in the United States, and declared that Beijing would take strong measures to protect its sovereignty.

Taiwan's 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 , Mr. Lai Thanh Duc officially only transited in the US on his way to Paraguay to attend the inauguration ceremony of host country President Santiago Pena next week.

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

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

On August 11, Reuters quoted unnamed Taiwanese officials as saying that China could use Lai's transit in the US as an "excuse" 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