Taiwan is a force for global peace, president says

Taiwan is a key force for promoting global peace and stability, President Lai Ching-te says as he heads to Hawaii as part of a Pacific tour, thanking the United States for allowing him to stop over. China, which views the democratically governed island as its territory, has been stepping up military pressure against Taiwan, including two rounds of war games in 2024. Security sources have told Reuters Beijing might hold more to coincide with Lai's Pacific tour, which includes stopovers in Hawaii and Guam, a US territory. "Thank you to the US government for upholding the principles of safety, dignity, comfort and convenience for helping the smooth process of this trip," Lai told reporters at Taiwan's main international airport outside of Taipei. Lai is stopping in Hawaii for the first two nights, before going to Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, three of the 12 countries that retain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei and a part of the world where China has been exerting ever stronger influence. Taiwan presidents often make use of what are officially only stopovers in the US to meet friendly US politicians and give speeches. Such stopovers are typically on visits to far-flung allies in the Pacific, Latin America or the Caribbean. "This trip is the beginning of a new era of value-based diplomacy," Lai said. "Democracy, prosperity, and peace are the expectations of the people of Taiwan, and they are also the values that I, as president, must actively promote. "I will continue to expand co-operation and deepen our partnership with our allies and friends based on the values of democracy, peace, and prosperity so that the world can see that Taiwan is not only a model of democracy, but also a key force in promoting global peace, stability, and prosperity." Hawaii and Guam are home to major US military bases. A few hours before Lai's departure, the US announced a new arms sale package for Taiwan, of spare parts for F-16 jets and radars for an estimated $US385 million ($A591 million). China on Friday urged the US to exercise "utmost caution" in its relations with Taiwan. The State Department said it saw no justification for what it called a private, routine and unofficial transit by Lai to be used as a pretext for provocation. This is Lai's first foreign trip since taking office in May. He returns to Taiwan on Friday. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says it has a right to engage with the world and for its leaders to travel abroad.