China Protests Planned US Visit by Taiwanese Official

Facts

• China's Foreign Ministry on Monday criticized plans for William Lai, Taiwan's vice president, and presidential frontrunner, to visit the US next month.¹
• Lai, who leads in polling to succeed Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen in Jan. 2024, has stopovers in the US during his trip to and from Paraguay in August.²
• Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press briefing that Beijing was "firmly opposed" to "official exchanges" between the US and Taiwan, describing Lai in the category of "independence separatists."³
• Ning also revealed that China already launched a diplomatic complaint against the US concerning Lai's stopovers. Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui responded by saying there was "no reason" for China to create "commotion" over the matter.¹
• Speaking on the condition of anonymity, a senior official in Pres. Biden’s cabinet said China should not use the trip as justification for "brazen coercion or other provocative activities," while also warning against "interference" in Taiwan's election.⁴
• Only 13 countries officially recognize Taiwan as an independent state at the present time.⁵

Sources: ¹Reuters, ²Independent, ³Associated Press, ⁴POLITICO, and ⁵Nikkei Asia.

Narratives

• Pro-China narrative, as provided by China Daily. China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are under threat from ties between the US and Taiwan, which have strengthened during the Ukraine war. Meetings with Taiwanese officials do nothing but inflame potential disagreements between the US and China, in violation of America’s agreed-upon One-China policy.
• Anti-China narrative, as provided by Taipei Times. Taiwan must maintain its independence to maintain the legitimacy of democracy worldwide. In that vein, Taiwan’s leaders are free to meet with whomever they need to meet with to keep its alliances strong. China must not be allowed to intervene in Taiwan’s affairs.

Predictions