Taipei: Taiwan urged China on Tuesday not to overreact to President Lai Ching-te's trip abroad, stating that transits through countries during presidential trips have been a longstanding practice. According to Kuwait News Agency, the Presidential Office reported that Lai had a two-night layover in Hawaii over the weekend before traveling to Taiwan's South Pacific allies, including the Marshall Islands, as reported by Taiwan News newspaper. During his stopover, the Taiwanese leader met with state officials and delivered a speech at the US State Department-funded think tank East-West Center. The Chinese Foreign Ministry expressed disapproval of the visit, urging the US to "cease all official interactions with Taiwan and stop sending erroneous signals to 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces." Presidential Office spokeswoman Karen Kuo highlighted the global consensus on ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Indo-Pacific region. She warned that if China uses Lai's trip as a reason to condu ct military drills, it would constitute a blatant provocation against regional stability. Kuo also voiced hope that Beijing would adhere to the rules-based international order and contribute to regional peace, as mentioned in the report. Taiwan is closely monitoring the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning, with expectations that Beijing might conduct military drills in response to Lai's trip, the report added. China and Taiwan have been separate entities since a civil war in 1949, but Beijing continues to regard the island as its territory.
