In a high-stakes diplomatic journey Lai Ching-te made some straight-forward statements about China-Taiwan relations (during his visit to Pacific region about a year ago)
His trip included stopovers in Hawaii and Guam where he met with US officials: these visits didnt sit well with Beijing. During his stay in Palau Lai spoke about Chinaʼs approach to regional affairs — suggesting that open hands work better than closed fists
Only by opening up can China win respect from the international community
Chinaʼs response to these diplomatic moves has been predictable; security experts think new military exercises are coming. Past drills happened twice last year:
- First set in spring after Laiʼs inauguration
- Second round following his national-day speech in fall
The Taiwan president discussed security matters with US House Speaker Mike Johnson in Guam. He pointed out Taiwanʼs strong cross-party support in America despite some non-standard comments from ex-president Trump about defense costs
Taiwan keeps track of whats happening in the region and has made needed preparations for safety in the Taiwan Strait. Lai thinks that while talking with China is important — its crucial to keep defense strong
The meetings during this Pacific tour show how Taiwan tries to balance international connections with regional peace-keeping (even when facing pressure from mainland China)