HONOLULU: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te mentioned “China’s navy threats” in the direction of the island in a name with former US Home speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday (Dec 1), his spokeswoman stated in Hawaii, Lai’s first stop on a Pacific trip that has enraged Beijing.
Pelosi’s long-standing help for Taiwan has infuriated China, which responded to her go to to Taipei in 2022 with huge navy drills across the island.
Lai and Pelosi mentioned amongst different issues “China’s navy threats towards Taiwan”, presidential spokeswoman Karen Kuo advised reporters, describing the 20-minute name between the “long-time pals” as “heat and amicable”.
China, which claims Taiwan as a part of its territory, opposes any worldwide recognition of Taiwan and its declare to be a sovereign state.
Beijing particularly bristles at official contact between the island and america, which is Taiwan’s most vital supporter and largest arms provider.
China has already fumed over more US arms sales to the island and Lai’s stopover in Hawaii, the place he was welcomed with purple carpets, garlands of flowers and “alohas”.
Since arriving on Saturday, Lai has met with state Governor Josh Inexperienced, members of the US Congress, officers from the de facto US embassy in Taiwan and others.
In his first public speech of the journey, Lai stated on Saturday that now we have to “struggle collectively to stop struggle”, warning there have been “no winners” from battle.
On the eve of his weeklong journey, america authorized a proposed sale to Taiwan of spare components for F-16s and radar techniques, in addition to communications tools, in offers valued at US$385 million in complete.
China’s international ministry referred to as on america over the weekend to “instantly cease arming Taiwan and cease abetting and supporting ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist forces”.
“China will take sturdy and resolute countermeasures to firmly defend nationwide sovereignty, safety and territorial integrity,” it added.
In a separate assertion, the international ministry stated China “strongly condemns” america for Lai’s stopover and that it had “lodged severe protests with the US”.
