Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te visited the US-funded East-West Center in Hawaii on Sunday during a two-day stopover that has drawn sharp rebukes from Beijing.

The visit is part of Lai’s Pacific island tour, which includes stops in the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau—three of the 12 nations that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.

At the East-West Center, located on the University of Hawaii’s Manoa campus, Lai exchanged gifts with the center’s president, Suzanne Puanani Vares-Lum, and addressed an audience, though journalists were not allowed to remain during his speech. Vares-Lum emphasized Hawaii’s strategic role in fostering dialogue between the US, Asia, and the Pacific, noting that the state regularly hosts global leaders.

Lai’s predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, made similar visits to the East-West Center in 2017 and 2019, underscoring its importance in Taiwan’s outreach strategy.

Beijing’s Strong Opposition

China’s Foreign Ministry condemned Lai’s Hawaii visit and criticized the U.S. for facilitating it. Beijing also protested a recently announced US arms sale to Taiwan, which includes $385 million in spare parts for F-16 fighter jets and support for tactical communication systems.

“China will closely monitor the situation’s development and take resolute and forceful measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the ministry stated.

The arms deal aligns with the Taiwan Relations Act, under which the U.S. is committed to supporting Taiwan’s self-defense. However, Washington has long maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity regarding whether it would directly intervene in the event of a Chinese invasion.

Strengthening U.S.-Taiwan Relations

Lai’s Hawaii itinerary included meetings with local leaders, including Governor Josh Green, who discussed disaster preparedness and shared experiences as former healthcare professionals. Lai also attended a banquet with Taiwanese American community members and posed for photos with Hawaii congressional representatives.

Representative Ed Case highlighted the enduring ties between the U.S. and Taiwan, rooted in shared values and interests. While it remains unclear whether Lai will meet with Biden administration officials or representatives of the incoming Trump administration, his visit signals Taiwan’s continued efforts to solidify international relationships.

Rising Tensions in the Taiwan Strait

Lai’s stopover comes amid heightened tensions between Taiwan and China, with Beijing increasingly vocal in opposing any perceived international recognition of Taiwan’s sovereignty. Last year, the Chinese military conducted drills near Taiwan following Lai’s U.S. visit as vice president.

China’s objections extend to high-level visits to Taiwan by U.S. politicians. Beijing views such engagements as infringing on its claims over Taiwan, despite Washington’s shift in formal recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979.

Lai’s Pacific tour and US stopover underscore Taiwan’s diplomatic resilience even as Beijing seeks to isolate the self-governing island on the world stage.