POLITICSTAIWAN
Taiwan’s Lai arrives in Hawaii amid first Pacific tour
1 hour ago1 hour ago
The Taiwan president’s weeklong tour in the Pacific involves a two-day stop in Hawaii. The US visit, Lai’s first since taking office, has invited condemnation from China, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory.
https://p.dw.com/p/4nc7B
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, greets people at the Kahala Hotel and Resort Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Honolulu.
Lai has arrived in Hawaii, the first stop in his Pacific tourImage: Marco Garcia/AP Photo/picture alliance
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrived in the US state of Hawaii on Saturday, during a weeklong tour in the Pacific that has prompted Beijing’s anger.
Lai’s two-day stop in the US is his first visit since taking office in May.
The visit has provoked fierce threats from China, which sees the self-governing democratic island of Taiwan as its territory and opposes any international recognition of its sovereignty.
How was Lai met in Hawaii?
The Taiwanese president was met at Honolulu International Airport by American Institute in Taiwan official Ingrid Larson, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, and others.
“This is the first time the [Taiwan] head of state was greeted on the tarmac, given red carpet treatment and presented with flowers, marking the highest standard of courtesy over the past years, in a departure from the traditional terminal reception protocol,” Taipei’s Presidential Office said in a statement.
No high-ranking US state officials were present to greet Lai at the Honolulu hotel where he is staying, according to Associated Press news agency reporters. But supporters met him with cheers in Mandarin, with some waving Taiwanese flags.
Lai then visited Bishop Museum, Hawaii’s leading museum of natural history and Native Hawaiian culture.
Bishop Museum CEO Dee Jay Mailer, left, places a traditional Hawaiian lei onto Taiwan President Lai Ching-te at the Bishop Museum on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Honolulu.Bishop Museum CEO Dee Jay Mailer, left, places a traditional Hawaiian lei onto Taiwan President Lai Ching-te at the Bishop Museum on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Honolulu.
Lai was gifted a traditional Hawaiian lei Image: Marco Garcia/AP Photo/picture alliance
Dee Jay Mailer, the museum’s CEO, gave Lai a lei hulu, or feather garland, made by master featherwork artist Kawika Lum- Nelmida.
In return, Lai gifted Mailer a headdress and neck and shoulder decorative pieces, made by Paiwan and Atayal Indigenous people of Taiwan, respectively.
Lai’s tour will also take him to the US territory of Guam for one night, as he intends to visit Taiwan’s allies the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau. The destinations are the only Pacific nations among the 12 remaining countries which still recognize Taiwan.
Beijing has lambasted Lai’s US visit. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning described Lai’s planned stopover in the US territory of Guam as “separatist actions.”
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, arrives at the Bishop Museum on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Honolulu. Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, arrives at the Bishop Museum on Saturday, Nov. 30, 2024 in Honolulu.
Taipei’s presidential office hailed the US visit as the first time a Taiwanese president was ‘given red carpet treatment’Image: Marco Garcia/AP Photo/picture alliance
rmt/wd (AFP, AP)
