China has strongly condemned the United States for hosting Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te during his stopover in Hawaii, where he was greeted by the state’s governor.
“China strongly condemns the US’s arrangement of Lai Ching-te’s ‘stopover’ and has lodged serious protests with the US,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement on Sunday.
President Lai, currently on a Pacific tour, arrived in Hawaii on Saturday for a two-day visit that has provoked sharp criticism from Beijing. He was warmly received with red carpets, flower garlands, and traditional “aloha” greetings.
Dressed in a Hawaiian shirt, Lai visited a Pacific Island history museum, an emergency management center, and the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. His arrival at Honolulu’s international airport was marked by what his office described as “red carpet treatment,” a first for a Taiwanese leader.
Lai was welcomed by Ingrid Larson, managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT); Hawaii Governor Josh Green; and other dignitaries.
Throughout his visit, Lai was presented with traditional Hawaiian leis and other gifts and enthusiastically greeted at various stops.
The evening concluded with a dinner attended by U.S. officials and members of the Taiwanese diaspora. Lai received a standing ovation as he walked down a red carpet to the event, further underscoring the significance of his visit.
