China has issued a sharp rebuke against the United States for hosting a visit by Taiwan's Vice President William Lai, whom China labeled a "separatist" and a "troublemaker through and through," The Guardian reported citing an official statement from Chinese Foreign Ministry. The ministry vowed to respond resolutely to Lai's presence in the US, underscoring their determination to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Vice President Lai, a leading candidate in Taiwan's upcoming presidential elections in January, made a brief stopover in New York on his way to Paraguay for the president's inauguration. This visit has strained China's already strained relationship with Taiwan, which China considers to be part of its territory.
On Sunday, China's foreign ministry issued a statement condemning Lai's visit, emphasising its opposition to any interaction with "Taiwan independence separatists" on US soil, according to the report. The statement accused Lai of steadfastly supporting Taiwan independence and contributing to the escalation of tensions in the Taiwan Strait by seeking US support.
Taiwan is the "core of China's core interests," it said, and facts have repeatedly shown that the reason for the rise in tensions in the Taiwan Strait is Taiwan's attempt to "rely on the United States to seek independence," the report said.
"Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence and is a troublemaker through and through," the statement from the ministry said. China reiterated that Taiwan is a critical component of its core interests and warned against any actions that could undermine this position.
As Lai arrived in New York, he was met with supporters waving Taiwanese flags outside his hotel, according to the report. While Lai is set to engage with overseas Taiwanese communities during his stay, his visit has been kept relatively low-key, in line with the shared understanding between Taipei and Washington to manage potential risks.
As per the report, China's response to Lai's US visit has raised concerns about increased military activities near Taiwan in an effort to influence the island nation's upcoming elections. Taiwanese officials have expressed apprehension that China could use these military drills as a means to intimidate voters and amplify anxieties about a potential conflict, it said.
China has increased its military manoeuvres around Taiwan in recent years in an attempt to assert its claim to the region. This recent development may have ramifications for the delicate balance of relations in the Taiwan Strait, as well as for broader international diplomacy.
The situation also calls into question the possibility of high-level diplomatic interactions between China and the US, including a possible meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this year.