China urges 'utmost caution' by US ahead of Taiwan president's Hawaii trip
Taiwan president to visit Hawaii on Pacific tour
China opposes foreign interactions, visits for Taiwan leaders
US says such transits routine, no reason for China to use as pretext for 'provocation'
Taiwan president also visiting three Pacific Island nations
Adds U.S. State Department, paragraphs 3-4 & 13
BEIJING, Nov 29 (Reuters) -China urged the United States on Friday to exercise the "utmost caution" on relations with democratically governed Taiwan, ahead of a sensitive trip its President Lai Ching-te starts this week to both Hawaii and Guam, as part of a Pacific tour.
China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, opposes any foreign interactions or visits by the island's leaders, especially those involving the United States.
A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department reiterated the U.S. position that transits by high-level Taiwan authorities were routine and "consistent with long-standing practice, the unofficial nature of our relations with Taiwan, and the U.S. One-China policy, which remains unchanged."
"We see no justification for a private, routine, and unofficial transit to be used as a pretext for provocation," the spokesperson added.
China is likely to launch military drills in the coming days near Taiwan, using Lai's trip to the Pacific and scheduled stopovers in the United States as a pretext, according to assessments by Taiwan and regional security officials.
Lai's weeklong trip begins on Saturday, making what is officially called a stopover first in Hawaii before going to Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries which have formal ties with Taiwan.
He will also stop over in the U.S. territory of Guam.
Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry, reiterated comments made by President Xi Jinping to U.S. President Joe Biden at an Asia-Pacific summit in Peru this month, in which he said "separatist acts" were incompatible with peace and stability in the 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 ruling party.
The United States must "handle the Taiwan issue with utmost caution, unequivocally oppose Taiwan independence of Taiwan, and support the peaceful reunification of China", Mao added at a daily news briefing in the Chinese capital.
China opposes any "scurrying to the United States" of Taiwan's leaders, in any form, or any U.S. support for separatist activities, 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."
The State Department spokesperson said every democratically elected Taiwan president had transited the United States, with Taiwan's former President Tsai Ing-wen making seven overseas trips with U.S. transits, while her predecessor Ma Ying-jeou transited several times as well, with both going via Hawaii twice.
Taiwan Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung told lawmakers on Thursday that Chinese war games in response to Lai's trip were one of the possible scenarios.
Lai and his government reject Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.
Visiting a temple in New Taipei on Friday, Lai said he was looking forward to visiting Taiwan's three Pacific allies on his first overseas visit since assuming office in May.
Lai said he would keep deepening partnership with other countries and "keep Taiwan going out into the world", the presidential office said in a statement that did not mention the U.S. stopovers.
Reporting by Joe Cash; Writing and additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Jonathan Oatis
Latest News
Disclaimer: The XM Group entities provide execution-only service and access to our Online Trading Facility, permitting a person to view and/or use the content available on or via the website, is not intended to change or expand on this, nor does it change or expand on this. Such access and use are always subject to: (i) Terms and Conditions; (ii) Risk Warnings; and (iii) Full Disclaimer. Such content is therefore provided as no more than general information. Particularly, please be aware that the contents of our Online Trading Facility are neither a solicitation, nor an offer to enter any transactions on the financial markets. Trading on any financial market involves a significant level of risk to your capital.
All material published on our Online Trading Facility is intended for educational/informational purposes only, and does not contain – nor should it be considered as containing – financial, investment tax or trading advice and recommendations; or a record of our trading prices; or an offer of, or solicitation for, a transaction in any financial instruments; or unsolicited financial promotions to you.
Any third-party content, as well as content prepared by XM, such as: opinions, news, research, analyses, prices and other information or links to third-party sites contained on this website are provided on an “as-is” basis, as general market commentary, and do not constitute investment advice. To the extent that any content is construed as investment research, you must note and accept that the content was not intended to and has not been prepared in accordance with legal requirements designed to promote the independence of investment research and as such, it would be considered as marketing communication under the relevant laws and regulations. Please ensure that you have read and understood our Notification on Non-Independent Investment. Research and Risk Warning concerning the foregoing information, which can be accessed here.
