Fifteen of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, which separates the two, in coordination with Chinese navy vessels in a “joint combat readiness patrol”, the statement said.
– Meeting ‘old friends’ –
Lai will spend two nights in Hawaii and one night in Guam, meeting with “old friends” and “think tank members”, a source in the Presidential Office told AFP on the condition of anonymity.
Communist China, which has never governed Taiwan, has sought to erase it from the international stage, blocking it from global forums and pressuring companies to list the island as a “Chinese province” on their websites.
Taiwan competes as Chinese Taipei in international sports events and Beijing bristles when Taipei officials meet with foreign politicians or government representatives.
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said Thursday that Lai’s planned visits were “separatist actions”.
“We have consistently opposed official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan… and any form of the US condoning and supporting Taiwan independence separatists and their separatist actions,” Mao said at a regular press conference.
– Haemorrhaging allies –
In recent decades, Taiwan has haemorrhaged allies as they jumped ship to an ascendant China, which has deeper pockets to provide aid and investment.
The United States is Taiwan’s most important partner and main security backer but does not recognise Taipei diplomatically.
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