Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te engaged in a 20-minute conversation with former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday during his visit to Hawaii, as reported by the official Central News Agency. The discussion focused on China’s military threats. Lai is currently on a week-long trip to the Pacific, with Hawaii being an official stopover, a move that has drawn condemnation from China, which opposes any transit by Taiwanese leaders on U.S. soil.
China asserts that Taiwan, which operates as a democratic entity, is part of its territory, a claim that Lai and his administration firmly dispute. According to Karen Kuo, spokesperson for the presidential office, the dialogue between Lai and Pelosi was characterized as warm and cordial, covering topics such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and the military threats posed by China to Taiwan. Pelosi continues to hold a prominent position within the Democratic Party.
In 2022, China conducted military exercises in the vicinity of Taiwan, expressing strong discontent over then-Speaker Pelosi’s visit to the island.
According to security sources cited by Reuters, there is a possibility that China may initiate further military drills around Taiwan in conjunction with Lai’s upcoming trip to the Pacific region.
The United States remains Taiwan’s most significant international ally and arms provider, despite the lack of formal diplomatic relations. Following his visit to Hawaii, Lai will travel to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, which are among the twelve nations that maintain official ties with Taipei. Additionally, he will make a stop in the U.S. territory of Guam.
