Taiwan a force for global peace, Lai Ching-te says as he leaves for Hawaii

TAOYUAN, Taiwan – Taiwan is a key force for promoting global peace and stability, Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said as he left for Hawaii on Nov 30 as part of a Pacific tour, thanking the United States for allowing him to stop over.

China, which views the democratically governed island as its own territory, has been stepping up military pressure against Taiwan, including two rounds of war games in 2024.

Security sources have told Reuters that Beijing may hold more to coincide with Mr Lai’s Pacific tour, which includes stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, a US territory.

Speaking to reporters at Taiwan’s main international airport outside of Taipei, Mr Lai said: “Thank you to the US government for upholding the principles of safety, dignity, comfort and convenience for helping the smooth process of this trip.”

Mr Lai is stopping in Hawaii for the first two nights, before going to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries which retain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei and a part of the world where China has been exerting ever stronger influence.

Taiwan presidents often make use of what are officially only stopovers in the US to meet friendly US politicians and give speeches. Such stopovers are typically on visits to far flung allies in the Pacific, Latin America or the Caribbean.

“This trip is the beginning of a new era of value-based diplomacy. Democracy, prosperity, and peace are the expectations of the people of Taiwan, and they are also the values that I, as President, must actively promote,” Mr Lai said.

“I will continue to expand cooperation and deepen our partnership with our allies and friends based on the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity, so that the world can see that Taiwan is not only a model of democracy, but also a key force in promoting global peace, stability, and prosperity.”

Hawaii and Guam are home to major US military bases.

A few hours before Mr Lai’s departure, the US announced a new arms sale package for Taiwan of spare parts for F-16 jets and radars for an estimated US$385 million (S$516 million).

China on Nov 29

urged the US to exercise “utmost caution”

in its relations with Taiwan.

The US State Department said it saw no justification for what it called a private, routine and unofficial transit by Mr Lai to be used as a pretext for provocation.

This is Mr Lai’s first foreign trip since taking office in May. He returns to Taiwan on Dec 6.

Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims and says it has a right to engage with the world and for its leaders to travel abroad. REUTERS