China’s foreign ministry on Sunday denounced Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai’s visit to the United States, describing him as separatist and “always a troublemaker,” and vowed that Beijing would take strong steps to protect its sovereignty. Lai, who is nominated to take over as Taiwan’s president in January, arrived in New York late Saturday on what is officially a stopover on his way to Paraguay for its president’s inauguration. China has repeatedly denounced Lai’s tour, which includes another stop in San Francisco on Wednesday on his way back to Taipei from Paraguay. China calls Taiwan part of its territory. In a statement released shortly after Lai’s plane arrived in New York, China’s foreign ministry said it opposed any visit to the United States by “pro-Taiwan separatists”. “Lai supports the separatist stance of Taiwan independence and is always a troublemaker,” she added. “China is closely following developments and will take resolute and forceful measures to protect its national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry said.
