Taiwan Official's Visit to the US Prompts , Concerns of Renewed Tension .
NBC reports that Taiwan's vice president said
the island nation will not back down in
the face of authoritarian threats from China.
NBC reports that Taiwan's vice president said
the island nation will not back down in
the face of authoritarian threats from China.
The statement was made during a visit to the U.S. by
Taiwan's vice president, William Lai, who is currently
favored to become the country's next president. .
Lai reportedly said that his visit to the U.S. was officially
just a transit stop on his way to Paraguay, one of just
13 countries that maintain formal ties with Taiwan.
Despite both the U.S. and Taiwan stressing that
the stopovers are routine, China has denounced the
visit, while calling Lai a separatist "troublemaker.".
On August 13, Lai told supporters in New York that , "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan
Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful.".
On August 13, Lai told supporters in New York that , "if Taiwan is safe, the world is safe, if the Taiwan
Strait is peaceful, then the world is peaceful.".
No matter how great the threat
of authoritarianism is to Taiwan,
we absolutely will not be scared
nor cower, we will uphold the
values of democracy and freedom, William Lai, Vice president of Taiwan, via NBC .
No matter how great the threat
of authoritarianism is to Taiwan,
we absolutely will not be scared
nor cower, we will uphold the
values of democracy and freedom, William Lai, Vice president of Taiwan, via NBC .
NBC reports that Taiwan remains China's top
diplomatic issue and has been a constant source
of conflict between Washington and Beijing.
The U.S. and Taiwan urged China
not to take any retaliatory action in
response to Lai's stopovers in the U.S.
Regardless, officials in Taiwan have stated
that China is expected to launch more
military drills near Taiwan later this week. .
Regardless, officials in Taiwan have stated
that China is expected to launch more
military drills near Taiwan later this week. .
In April, China carried out a series of war games near
Taiwan following President Tsai Ing-wen's return from a trip
to California for a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
In April, China carried out a series of war games near
Taiwan following President Tsai Ing-wen's return from a trip
to California for a meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy