Beijing lodged a ‘serious protest’ with the US and said it ‘strongly condemns’ the Taiwanese leader’s stopover in Hawaii, Guam.

China has vowed “strong countermeasures” after the US decision to approve more arms sales to Taiwan, hours before the island’s president, William Lai Ching-tae, flew through the state of Hawaii, prompting Beijing to More angry.

In a statement Sunday, the Foreign Ministry said U.S. arms sales to Taiwan send the “wrong signal” to the island’s Taiwan Liberation Forces and harm U.S.-China relations.

It added that “China will closely monitor developments and take resolute and strong measures to defend our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

Despite the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Washington and Taipei, to Beijing’s continued anger, the US is committed to providing Taiwan with the means to defend itself.

Taiwan rejects China’s sovereignty claims.

The US State Department approved the potential sale of spare parts and support for F-16 jets and radars to Taiwan, worth an estimated $385 million, hours before Lai began his trip to the three Pacific nations, Hawaii and the US territory. With a stop in of Guam

In a separate statement issued by a Foreign Ministry spokesman on Sunday, China said it “strongly condemned” the US for “managing” Lai’s stop, during which Hawaii Governor Josh Green visited him. welcome

It has lodged a strong protest with the US, the statement added.

The ministry added that it strongly opposes any official exchange between the US and Taiwan.

China, which views Taiwan as its democratic territory and a key issue in its relationship with Washington, strongly dislikes Lai and calls him a “separatist”.

During Lai’s transit in Hawaii, he visited the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor, during which he said that the United States and Taiwan “must fight together to prevent war”.

He said that peace is priceless and there is no winner in war.

Looking casual in a Hawaiian shirt, Lai was given the “red carpet treatment” on the tarmac at Honolulu’s international airport, according to his office, which said it was the first time a Taiwanese president had been seen in such a manner. has been welcomed.

He was met by Governor Green as well as Ingrid Larson, the managing director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) in Washington.

In his first public speech of the weeklong trip, Lai said he was “grateful” to the United States for helping to ensure the success of the visit.

After Hawaii, Lai will visit Taiwan’s allies, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau — the only island nations of the 12 Pacific nations that recognize Taiwan’s claim to statehood.