By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Taiwan’s president is passing through Guam in an unofficial capacity, Washington said in a bid to quell Beijing’s angry reaction to Lai Ching-te’s flying visit to the U.S. territory this week.
A spokesperson for the State Department reassured Beijing that the United States maintains its one-China policy and does not support Taiwan’s independence.
“We see no justification for a private, routine and unofficial transit to be used as a pretext for provocation,” the spokesperson said in an email, reacting to China’s threat to “smash Taiwan’s separatist attempts” and “thwart any foreign interference.”
Reuters earlier reported that China could launch military drills near Taiwan during Lai’s Pacific tour.
Lai is scheduled to make a brief stop on Guam on Dec. 5 en route to his official tour of the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau.
Krystal Paco-San Agustin, Guam’s communications director, said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero will meet with Lai during his daylong stopover on island, where he will also speak with the Taiwanese expats during a luncheon to be hosted by the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office at the Hyatt Regency Guam.
Before proceeding to his official destinations in the Pacific, Lai briefly stopped in Hawaii on Tuesday, meeting with the U.S. think tank East-West Center.
Taiwan’s presidential office said Lai met with Suzanne Vares-Lum, East-West Center president, in a closed-door discussion, where he delivered remarks, thanking the U.S. “for its longstanding support under the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, which continuously strengthens the Taiwan-U.S. partnership.”
The State Department maintained that the “unofficial nature” of Washington’s relations with the democratically governed Taiwan and the U.S. one-China policy remain unchanged.
Upon landing at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on Monday, Lai was greeted by Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi and Police Chief Arthur J. Logan.
According to Taiwan’s presidential office, Lai visited the Bishop Museum, where he was led on a guided tour of exhibits at the facility.
“Transits by high-level Taiwan authorities are consistent with long-standing practice,” the State Department’s spokesperson said, noting that “every democratically elected Taiwan president has transited the United States.”
The spokesperson stressed that such transits “are routine and unofficial, and are undertaken out of consideration for the safety, comfort convenience and dignity of the passenger.”
The department recalled that former Tawain president Tsai Ing-wen had seven overseas trips with U.S. transits through Hawaii. So did her predecessor, Ma Ying-jeou, who transited several times.
The U.S. is walking on eggshells around its diplomatic ties with China, which views Taiwan as its territory. Washington’s cordial relations with Taiwan arouse a sore spot for Beijing.
The State Department reassured China that the U.S. approach to Taiwan “has remained consistent for 45 years and across every administration.”
“The United States opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo by either side; we do not support Taiwan independence; and we expect cross-Strait differences to be resolved by peaceful means,” the department’s spokesperson said.
Guam Del. James Moylan said welcomes Lai’s visit to Guam.
“Regarding the implications of the president's visit, it would only further enhance the opportunities for many mutual benefits for both Guam and Taiwan, particularly from an economic perspective,” Moylan said.
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