NEW YORK: Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen landed in New York on Wednesday. That prompted Chinese threats of retaliation if she talks with House speaker Kevin McCarthy and American warnings not to overreact.
Tsai is staying in the US before visiting Guatemala and Belize to strengthen diplomatic ties.
She will see McCarthy in California before returning to Taiwan.
With its “One China” policy, no country can have diplomatic relations with both Beijing and Taipei. China views the democratic island as its territory to be retaken.
Beijing threatened Wednesday that it would “resolutely fight back” if Taiwan leader Tsai and speaker McCarthy met.
The US said China shouldn’t utilise Tsai’s stopover to act forcefully around the Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan’s president arrived at her hotel in New York, where dozens of pro-Beijing protesters hoisted China’s red flag as a similarly sized number of pro-Taiwan supporters shouted and carried their banner and the American stars and stripes.
The Chinese embassy’s charge d’affaires, Xu Xueyuan, told American authorities that Tsai’s travel would violate China’s basic interests.
She told reporters, “We encourage the US side not to repeat playing with fire on the Taiwan subject,” referencing then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan last year.
Honduras opened diplomatic relations with Beijing this month, leaving Belize and Guatemala as Taipei’s only allies.
Her office said Tsai Ing wen will visit Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei and Belize Prime Minister John Briceno after visiting New York.
She’ll return home via Los Angeles.
McCarthy will see the Taiwanese president in his home state, although Taiwanese authorities have not confirmed the meeting.
Pelosi’s visit angered Beijing, which conducted extraordinary military drills surrounding the island.
