{"id":426854,"date":"2024-12-02T02:08:12","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T02:08:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=426854"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"We-have-to-fight-together-to-prevent-war-Taiwan-s-Lai-says-in-US","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/We-have-to-fight-together-to-prevent-war-Taiwan-s-Lai-says-in-US\/","title":{"rendered":"We have to ‘fight together to prevent war’, Taiwan’s Lai says in US"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in the United States on Saturday that we have to “fight together to prevent war”, as he kicked off a week-long tour of the Pacific that has sparked fiery rhetoric from Beijing.<\/p>\n

Taiwan faces the constant threat of a military attack by China, which it considers part of its territory and regularly deploys fighter jets and warships around the self-ruled island to press its claims.<\/p>\n

Washington is Taipei’s most important partner and biggest provider of weapons, but maintains a “strategic ambiguity” when it comes to putting boots on the ground to defend the island from China.<\/p>\n

Speaking at a dinner in the US island state of Hawaii on Saturday, Lai said there were “no winners” from conflict and “we have to fight, fight together to prevent war.”<\/p>\n

Lai earlier received a standing ovation as he walked down a red carpet for the gathering with US government officials, state politicians, members of Congress, and Taiwanese expatriates.<\/p>\n

He said the US flag and Hawaii state flag given to him as a gift “symbolise the longstanding friendship between Taiwan and the United States and lays the foundation for further cooperation in the future.”<\/p>\n

The chairperson of the American Institute in Taiwan, the body that serves as the de facto US embassy, said the partnership between Washington and Taipei was “rock solid”.<\/p>\n

“The opportunity for you to engage with thought leaders, the diaspora’s community and state and local leaders is invaluable, and I know will contribute to further strengthening the rock solid US-Taiwan partnership,” Laura Rosenberger said in a pre-recorded video played at the dinner.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Like most countries, Washington does not recognize Taiwan diplomatically but maintains close unofficial ties.<\/p>\n

Beijing opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and its claim to be a sovereign state and especially bristles at official contact between the island and the United States.<\/p>\n

In a statement, China’s foreign ministry said it “strongly condemns” the United States for Lai’s stopover and that it had “lodged serious protests with the US”.<\/p>\n

“China will closely follow the developments and take resolute and strong measures to defend our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” it said.<\/p>\n

Lai, who is travelling abroad for the first time since taking office in May, was welcomed with red carpets, flower garlands and “alohas” as he began the two-day stopover in Hawaii.<\/p>\n

Looking relaxed in a Hawaiian shirt, Lai flitted around, visiting a Pacific island history museum, an emergency management centre and the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbour.<\/p>\n

On his arrival, he was given the “red carpet treatment” on the tarmac of Honolulu’s international airport, according to his office, which said it was the first time a Taiwanese president had been given such a welcome.<\/p>\n

He was met by Ingrid Larson, managing director in Washington of the AIT, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, and others.<\/p>\n

Taiwanese government officials have previously stopped over on US soil during visits to the Pacific or Latin America, angering China, which has sometimes responded with military drills around the island.<\/p>\n

– ‘We are all Team Taiwan’ –<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n

After Hawaii, Lai will visit Taiwan’s allies the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau — the only Pacific island nations among the 12 countries that recognize Taiwan’s claim to statehood — and stop over for one night in the US territory of Guam.<\/p>\n

Lai said shortly before take-off in Taipei that the trip “ushered in a new era of values-based democracy” and thanked the US government for “helping to make this trip a smooth one”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He said he wanted to “continue to expand cooperation and deepen partnerships with our allies based on the values of democracy, peace and prosperity.”<\/p>\n

“I once again emphasize that we are all Team Taiwan. We all work together, and we can successfully achieve our goals,” Lai told reporters on board the plane.<\/p>\n

An AFP journalist is travelling with the president for the duration of the trip.<\/p>\n

In a swift response to news of Lai’s trip on Thursday, Wu Qian, a spokesperson for China’s defense ministry said: “We firmly oppose official interaction with China’s Taiwan region in any form” and vowed to “resolutely crush” any attempts for Taiwan independence.<\/p>\n

Lai’s trip follows the US approval on Friday of a proposed sale to Taiwan of spare parts for F-16s and radar systems, as well as communications equipment, in deals valued at $385 million in total.<\/p>\n

The Taiwan president’s trip comes as Republican US President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office in January.\u00a0<\/p>\n

During his campaign, Trump caused jitters by suggesting Taiwan should pay the United States for its defense.<\/p>\n

amj-joy\/dhw<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has been an outspoken defender of Taiwan’s sovereignty, with Beijing calling him a ‘separatist’<\/p>\n

-I-Hwa CHENG
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<\/p>\n

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (L) was welcomed by Ingrid Larson (C), managing director in Washington of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) upon arrival in Hawaii<\/p>\n

-Handout
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<\/p>\n

Lai’s aircraft was accompanied by Taiwan Air Force F-16s for part of its route to Hawaii<\/p>\n

-Akio Wang
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<\/p>\n

On his first overseas trip since taking office in May, Taiwanese president Lai Ching-te landed in the US island state of Hawaii<\/p>\n

-Ronen ZILBERMAN
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (R) was welcomed by Ingrid Larson (C), Managing Director in Washington of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT)<\/p>\n

-Handout
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

At the museum, a smiling Lai was greeted with a short ceremony during which he was given a garland<\/p>\n

-Ronen ZILBERMAN
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (L) shakes hands with Hawaii Governor Josh Green during his stopover visit to the US island state<\/p>\n

-Ronen ZILBERMAN
<\/figcaption><\/figure>

<\/p>\n

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te (centre R) presentis a souvenir to Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan<\/p>\n

-Handout
<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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