Taiwan President Urges China to Halt Military Provocation During Pacific Tour

Lai Ching-te calls for international unity against authoritarianism as China signals potential war games in response to his U.S. and Pacific visits.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te emphasized the need to resist authoritarianism and safeguard democracy during his Pacific tour, which included stops in Hawaii, Guam, and allied nations like Palau.
China criticized Lai's visits to U.S. territories and Pacific allies, calling Taiwan a 'core interest' and warning of potential military drills in response.
During his visit to Guam, Lai called for deeper cooperation between democracies in the Indo-Pacific to maintain regional peace and stability.
Lai met with U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and other congressional leaders, reaffirming strong U.S.-Taiwan ties despite China's objections to official interactions.
Taiwan's government reiterated its rejection of China's sovereignty claims, asserting its right to engage globally and strengthen its defenses against military threats.