Chinese authorities have condemned Taiwan Vice President William Lai's brief visit to the United States, calling him a separatist and a "troublemaker through and through." Lai, who is expected to become Taiwan's next president in January, arrived in New York on Saturday for a transit stop on his way to Paraguay. China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, has repeatedly criticized Lai's trip. In a statement, China's foreign ministry expressed opposition to any visit by "Taiwan independence separatists" to the United States and warned of strong measures to protect its sovereignty.

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council, responsible for China policies, responded by accusing China of being the real troublemaker and pointed to its recent standoff with the Philippines in the South China Sea as well as its continued military harassment of Taiwan. The council emphasized that Taiwan will not back down and will defend its sovereignty and security.

China's strong disdain for Lai stems from his previous self-description as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence." However, he has consistently stated during his campaign that he does not seek to change the status quo and that only the people of Taiwan can decide their future.

A source familiar with Lai's trip revealed that he plans to participate in receptions with overseas Taiwanese during his stopover in New York. However, he will not be meeting with US lawmakers and intends to keep the visit low-key, aligning with the shared position of Taipei and Washington to jointly manage risks in dealing with an authoritarian region at this sensitive time.

Lai expressed his excitement about the visit, stating on social media that he looked forward to seeing friends and participating in transit programs in New York. Laura Rosenberger, chair of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), a US government-run nonprofit that handles unofficial relations with Taiwan, announced that she would meet with Lai in San Francisco on Wednesday.