Taiwan leader heads to Americas; US stops set to irk China
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Taiwan's leader pledged to bolster her self-ruled island's presence on the international stage as she set off Saturday to visit four Central American allies on a trip that includes US transits and looks set to raise China's ire.
President Tsai Ing-wen said the visits to Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador would "show the international society that Taiwan is a capable and responsible partner for cooperation."
Beijing regards the self-governing island as part of China and officials complained after US President-elect Donald Trump last month breached diplomatic protocol by speaking by phone with the Taiwanese leader. Trump raised further concerns in Beijing when he questioned a US policy that since 1979 has recognized Beijing as China's government and maintains only unofficial relations with Taiwan. It was not clear if Tsai would meet President-elect Donald Trump or anyone from his transition team, though analysts say she is likely to meet with U.S. politicians. US lawmakers often meet with Taiwanese presidents when they transit through the US—most recently in June, when Tsai met in Miami with Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida.
