OTR: Taiwan president’s Pacific trip draws China backlash
4 December 2024
Over the weekend, Taiwan president Lai Ching-te embarked on a week-long trip of the Pacific – his first international travel as leader of the self-governing island.
His itinerary includes stops at three of Taiwan’s official diplomatic allies – the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau – as well as a two-day visit to Hawaii and a one-night stay in the US territory of Guam.
Hawaii was his first stop. Lai arrived in the US state on November 30 (local time) and was greeted on the tarmac by Hawaii governor Josh Green and Honolulu mayor Rick Blangiardi. Lai spent time attending a dinner with Hawaii congressional representatives and lawmakers, visited the thinktank East-West Center, and met with members of the Taiwanese community.
Lai’s trip drew immediate reaction from China, which views Taiwan as part of its territory.
Over the weekend, Beijing’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it “firmly opposes any form of US connivance or support for ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists and their separatist activities,”, while a spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office called the visit “a provocative act”.
The US is not an official diplomatic ally of Taiwan but maintains strong unofficial ties, including as a major arms supplier to the island.
According to reporting from The Guardian, Taiwanese presidents often make use of what are officially only stopovers in the US to meet friendly US politicians and give speeches.
Following his time in Hawaii, Lai scheduled visits to Taiwan’s Pacific allies of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau. These nations represent three of Taiwan’s 12 official diplomatic allies, all of which recognise Taiwan’s independence.
Lai’s visit comes after sustained efforts from China over the last few years to build stronger ties in the Pacific. In 2019, the Solomon Islands government changed to recognise diplomatic ties with China, rather than Taiwan. In 2024, Nauru also severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in favour of China.
China’s view is that as Taiwan comes under its territory, Taiwan is unable to form its own diplomatic ties with countries.
Lai was elected as president in January this year and this is his first international visit. Since his inauguration in May, China has stepped up a number of war exercises close to the island. One estimate, by US general Kevin Schneider, put Chinese military flight numbers up by 300 percent since Lai stepped into office.
On Tuesday, Lai arrived in the Marshall Islands. Next, he will head to Tuvalu, Guam and then Palau. He is due back in Taiwan on December 6.
- Asia Media Centre