Taiwan President Lai Ching-te is planning to visit diplomatic allies in the Pacific region in the coming weeks, with scheduled stops in Hawaii and Guam. Both Hawaii and Guam are important military bases for the United States.
According to Reuters, citing six sources, Lai Ching-te is planning to make a stop in Hawaii as part of his upcoming overseas trip that is set to begin in the following weeks. Four of the sources mentioned discussions regarding a possible stop in Guam.
It is common for Taiwanese presidents to utilize transit stops in the United States to meet with friendly American political figures and deliver speeches. An insider familiar with the itinerary indicated that they expect Lai Ching-te’s visit to the U.S. to be more low-profile than usual, with logistical arrangements still being finalized.
During her presidency in 2017 and 2019, former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen also made stops in Hawaii while visiting Pacific allies.
Details regarding which countries President Lai will visit and the specific itinerary are yet to be confirmed. Taiwan currently maintains diplomatic relations with only three Pacific nations: the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau.
Following the Republic of Nauru’s announcement of cutting ties with Taiwan in January this year, Taiwan is left with only 12 diplomatic allies.
In recent years, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has intensified diplomatic pressure on Taiwan in the Pacific region, leading some countries to switch recognition to Beijing under CCP’s influence. Therefore, the significance of President Lai’s upcoming trip is self-evident.
The Taiwan Presidential Office stated that President Lai currently does not have any plans for overseas travel, and if there are any arrangements, the government will announce them at the appropriate time.
A spokesperson from the U.S. State Department mentioned that inquiries regarding high-ranking Taiwanese officials’ travel plans should be directed to the Taiwanese authorities.
Despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Taiwan, the United States remains Taiwan’s most crucial international supporter and source of weaponry.
This visit coincides with the end of the Biden administration’s term. Biden previously stated that the U.S. military would intervene to defend Taiwan in the event of a CCP invasion.
Former President Trump had suggested during his election campaign that Taiwan should bear protection costs, but later nominated hawkish Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State.
Since assuming office as Taiwan’s president in May, Lai Ching-te has yet to undertake any foreign visits. The CCP views the current Taiwanese president, who does not bow to its demands, as a thorn in their side, labeling him a “separatist” and vehemently opposing any interactions between the Taiwanese government and foreign officials.
In recent years, the CCP has escalated military pressure on Taiwan, conducting military exercises shortly after Lai Ching-te’s inauguration, citing them as a warning against “separatist activities”.
The Taiwan government firmly rejects the CCP’s claims over Taiwan’s sovereignty and emphasizes Taiwan’s right to engage with other countries, including the freedom of its leaders to conduct foreign visits.
In August last year, following Vice President Lai Ching-te’s return from the U.S., the CCP conducted a one-day military exercise near Taiwan’s periphery.
In April last year, during President Tsai Ing-wen’s visit to the U.S. and meeting with the then U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles, the CCP also carried out military drills near Taiwan as a show of intimidation.
(Reference: Reuters)