Lai Ching-te, the leader of China's Taiwan region, recently embarked on a diplomatic tour of three Pacific nations, including stopovers in the U.S. territories of Hawaii and Guam. His visit has sparked significant attention and controversy, particularly due to his interactions with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Analysts suggest that Lai's visit to Pacific nations is unlikely to yield immediate benefits for Taiwan. Instead, his primary aim appears to be to transit through the U.S., using the opportunity to engage with American politicians and rally support for his secession agenda, which is strongly opposed by the Chinese mainland.
\"Lai Ching-te's transit through the U.S. is another attempt to push his independence agenda by leaning on American support,\" said Wang Ran, president of the Sydney Association for China's Peaceful Reunification, to CGTN. He added that the firm determination of the Chinese government and the Chinese people to safeguard peace in the Taiwan Straits is something no one can undermine.
In the context of the U.S. presidential transition, officials on the island advised against such visits, warning that stopovers could be seen as destabilizing gestures, provoking unnecessary tensions across the Taiwan Straits.
Critics also pointed out the financial costs of Lai's stopover in the U.S., mentioning that the visit came around the time the U.S. approved nearly $20 billion in new arms sales to Taiwan, marking the 17th such deal under the Joe Biden administration. Reports also suggest that Lai is considering larger-scale military procurement from the U.S., potentially exceeding $15 billion to bolster the region's defense capabilities.
\"Traveling thousands of extra kilometers for a meaningless so-called transit is absurd. It wastes public funds, undermines China-U.S. relations, and violates the one-China principle,\" said Yuan Juzheng, a Taiwan political commentator, adding Lai's actions will not win genuine international support.
Public sentiment in Taiwan is divided over military interactions with the U.S. A recent poll by a Taiwan public opinion foundation showed that a majority of people in Taiwan disapprove of the idea of Taiwan paying \"protection fees\" to the U.S., a notion popularized by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump during his campaign.
Additionally, younger residents of Taiwan are increasingly concerned that Lai's policies toward the Chinese mainland could lead to conflict. A survey found that nearly half of respondents aged 18 to 29 fear that Lai's cross-strait policies could bring Taiwan closer to war.
Domestic critics, including New Taipei City Mayor Hou You-yi, have expressed concerns over Lai's stance on cross-strait relations. Hou advocates for continued communication and exchanges between the two sides to ensure peace and stability, emphasizing that mutual understanding is key to maintaining stability across the Taiwan Straits.
The Chinese mainland has strongly opposed Lai's U.S. stopover, reiterating its commitment to the one-China principle. Both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Taiwan Affairs Office have issued stern warnings, condemning Lai's actions as an attempt to advance the secession agenda and warning the U.S. against sending any \"wrong signals\" to Taiwan secessionists.
\"The Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests, and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-U.S. relations,\" Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said. He urged the U.S. to fully recognize Lai Ching-te and the Democratic Progressive Party authorities' separatist nature, understand the grave damage of Taiwan secession activities to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, fully abide by the one-China principle, and stop meddling in affairs related to Taiwan, which are China's internal affairs.
Reference(s):
Experts say Lai's U.S. stopover aimed at pushing his secession agenda
cgtn.com
