Taiwan’s Vice President Makes Stopover in US Despite CCP’s Threats

A brief U.S. stop by Taiwan’s Vice President Lai Ching-te has angered China, with its foreign ministry denouncing him as a “troublemaker” and vowing reprisal, drawing an emphatic rebuke from Taipei.

Taiwan's vice president, William Lai, speaks at Taoyuan International Airport before his departure to the United States for a stopover in New York on his way to Paraguay, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, on Aug. 12, 2023. Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters

A brief U.S. stopover by Taiwan’s vice president, Lai Ching-te, has led China’s foreign ministry to denounce him as a “troublemaker” and vowed a forceful response, drawing an emphatic rebuke from Taipei.

Mr. Lai arrived in New York on Aug. 12 en route to Paraguay for the inauguration of its president.