GREETED WITH “ALOHAS”
Lai was greeted in Hawaii on Saturday with purple carpets, garlands of flowers and “alohas”, as he met with state Governor Josh Inexperienced, members of the US Congress, officers from the de facto US embassy in Taiwan and others.
Whereas america has bought billions of {dollars} price of arms to Taiwan, Washington has lengthy maintained a “strategic ambiguity” relating to placing boots on the bottom to defend the island from China.
Lai’s remarks adopted China’s threats final week to “resolutely crush” any makes an attempt for Tawain independence and forward of US President-elect Donald Trump taking workplace in January.
Trump induced jitters throughout his marketing campaign by suggesting Taiwan ought to pay america for its defence and accusing the island of stealing the US semiconductor business.
Lai is scheduled to deal with the East-West Middle in Honolulu on Sunday.
After Hawaii, he’ll go to Taiwan’s allies the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau – the one Pacific island nations among the many 12 remaining allies that acknowledge Taiwan’s declare to statehood – and cease over for one night time within the US territory of Guam.
Lai mentioned shortly earlier than take-off in Taipei that the journey “ushered in a brand new period of values-based democracy” and thanked the US authorities for “serving to to make this journey a easy one”.
He mentioned he needed to “proceed to increase cooperation and deepen partnerships with our allies primarily based on the values of democracy, peace and prosperity.”
“I as soon as once more emphasise that we’re all Group Taiwan. All of us work collectively, and we are able to efficiently obtain our targets,” Lai advised reporters on board the aircraft.
An AFP journalist is travelling with the president in the course of the journey.
