China lodges strong protests with US over Lai’s ‘stopover’

China deplored and has lodged strong protests to the US over arranging for Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te's "stopovers" in Hawaii and Guam and having official interactions with the Taiwan region, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference on Friday, urging the US to adhere to one-China principle and stop sending seriously wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces.

By arranging for Lai's "stopovers" in Hawaii and Guam, having official interactions with the Taiwan region, helping Taiwan expand so-called "international space," and providing platforms for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, the US gravely violated the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués. The actions it took undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and send a severely wrong signal to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Lin said at a press conference on Friday.

Taiwan regional Leader Lai Ching-te has reportedly concluded his "stopovers" in Hawaii and Guam of the US and is scheduled to return to the island on Friday, according to Taiwan media. 

Lin said the Taiwan question is the first red line that must not be crossed in China-US relations. "Taiwan independence" separatist activities are as incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits as fire with water. China urges the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, act on the US leaders' commitment, including not supporting "Taiwan independence," stop its official interactions with Taiwan, stop obscuring and hollowing out the one-China principle, stop abetting and aiding the separatist forces and their activities in any form, and take concrete actions to stabilize China-US relations and contribute to peace in the Taiwan Straits, said Lin.

"Let me stress that attempts to solicit US support for 'Taiwan independence' or use the Taiwan question to contain China will lead nowhere. No one should underestimate the firm resolve, will and ability of the Chinese government and people to safeguard sovereignty and territorial integrity," said Lin.

Also on the same day, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said Lai's actions once again prove that the so-called "stopover" is merely an excuse, and in reality, it is a political maneuver by the DPP authorities to "rely on the US to seek 'independence'" and by the US side to "use Taiwan island to contain China."

Zhu warned the DPP authorities that relying on the US for "Taiwan independence" and pursuing military means for "Taiwan independence" agenda is a dead end, and is doomed to failure.

The real purpose of Lai's "stopover" in Hawaii and Guam, which are not essential to the travel route for countries in the South Pacific, is to advance the "Taiwan independence" agenda by seeking more US support, Zheng Jian, a professor at the Taiwan Research Institute of Xiamen University, told the Global Times on Friday. 

Before and during the trip, Lai repeatedly exaggerated "threats" from the mainland to gain US backing and deceive the international community. His tactics resemble those used in his inauguration on May 20 and "Double Ten" speeches: provoking first, then inflating potential mainland countermeasures. Once the mainland responds firmly, Lai is portrayed as the victim, said Zheng. 

The US government will not abandon its use of Taiwan as a bargaining chip, but the extent to which the incoming US administration will leverage Taiwan remains uncertain. Lai is compelled to pledge loyalty to the US during his brief "stopover," said Zheng.

Also on Friday, Lai reportedly claimed that he is confident of deeper cooperation with the next administration of Donald Trump and the day before, he had a phone call with US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson.

In response, Lin said that China has repeatedly stated its firm position on this matter. 

We urge the US to fully see the separatist nature of Lai Ching-te and the DPP authorities, fully understand the grave damage that "Taiwan independence" separatist activities due to peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits, fully abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, stop meddling in affairs related to Taiwan, which are China's internal affairs, and stop aiding and abetting "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, Lin said.  

Unwavering determination

Lai and other "Taiwan independence" separatist forces should know that their provocative remarks promoting "Taiwan independence" cannot be made lightly, and they will have to pay the price. Taiwan is a part of China, and this fact cannot be changed, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times. 

China will not make any concessions on the Taiwan question even when faced with external interference and the People's Liberation Army is fully prepared for any circumstance, said Song. 

On Friday, in response to a query on whether the mainland is planning to conduct more military exercises surrounding Taiwan island, Lin said the Taiwan question is at the core of China's core interests and the first red line that cannot be crossed in China-US relations. China remains unwavering in its resolve to defend our nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity. 

Previously some Taiwan local media claimed that the mainland military is poised to "encircle Taiwan proper in military exercise 'Joint Sword-2024C'," as Lai is returning from his visit to "diplomatic allies" in the Pacific via "transit" through the US.

On May 23, the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army conducted the "Joint Sword-2024A" military exercise around the Taiwan Straits. Also on October 14, the PLA Eastern Theater Command dispatched troops from its army, navy, air force and rocket force to conduct joint military drills code-named Joint Sword-2024B in the Taiwan Straits. The drill served as a stern warning to the separatist acts of "Taiwan Independence" forces, Senior Captain Li Xi, spokesperson of the PLA Eastern Theater Command, said in a statement.

Conducting military exercises shows PLA's determination to safeguard sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national unity while curbing separatism, Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times.