China blasts US arms sale to Taiwan, President Lai’s go to to Hawaii
Beijing lodges ‘severe protests’ with the US saying it ‘strongly condemns’ Taiwanese chief’s stopover in Hawaii, Guam.
China has pledged “resolute countermeasures” following america’ resolution to approve extra arms gross sales to Taiwan, simply hours earlier than the island’s President William Lai Ching-te made a transit by way of the state of Hawaii, which additional angered Beijing.
In an announcement on Sunday, the Ministry of Overseas Affairs mentioned the US arms sale to Taiwan sends “a incorrect sign” to the island’s Taiwan independence forces and undermines US-China relations.
“China will intently observe the developments and take resolute and robust measures to defend our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it added.
The US is certain by regulation to supply Taiwan with the means to defend itself regardless of the dearth of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei, to the fixed anger of Beijing.
Taiwan rejects China’s claims of sovereignty.
The US State Division had accredited the potential sale, price an estimated $385m, of spare components and assist for F-16 jets and radars to Taiwan, hours earlier than Lai started his journey to a few Pacific nations, with stops in Hawaii and the US territory of Guam.
In a separate assertion issued by a Overseas Ministry spokesman on Sunday, China mentioned it “strongly condemned” the US for “arranging” Lai’s stopover, throughout which he was welcomed by Hawaii Governor Josh Inexperienced.
The assertion added that it has “lodged severe protests with the US”.
The ministry added it firmly opposes any official exchanges between the US and Taiwan.
China, which views democratically ruled Taiwan as its personal territory and an important situation in its relations with Washington, strongly dislikes Lai, calling him a “separatist”.
Throughout Lai’s transit in Hawaii, he visited the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbour, throughout which he mentioned the US and Taiwan ought to “combat collectively to stop struggle”.
“Peace is priceless, and struggle has no winners,” he mentioned.
Trying relaxed in a Hawaiian shirt, Lai was given the “pink carpet remedy” on the tarmac of Honolulu’s worldwide airport, based on his workplace, which mentioned it was the primary time a Taiwanese president had been given such a welcome.
He was met by Governor Inexperienced in addition to Ingrid Larson, managing director in Washington of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).
In his first public speech of the weeklong journey, Lai mentioned he was “grateful” to the US for its help in serving to to make sure the success of the tour.
After Hawaii, Lai will go to Taiwan’s allies, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau – the one Pacific island nations among the many 12 international locations that recognise Taiwan’s declare to statehood.
