China considers self-governed Taiwan to be part of its territory and opposes any international recognition of the island and its claim to be a sovereign state.
Beijing especially bristles at official exchanges between Taiwan and the United States, which does not recognize Taipei diplomatically but is its most important backer and biggest supplier of arms.
Lai, who has been an outspoken defender of Taiwan's sovereignty and whom Beijing calls a "separatist," is on his first overseas trip since taking office in May. Читать дальше...