China "strongly" opposes any visit by "Taiwan separatists-independenceists" to the United States and refuses any form of official interaction between Washington and the rebel island.

Beijing's wrath falls on Taipei because Vice President William Lai made a stopover in New York on an official visit to Paraguay.

"We are closely following developments in the situation and will take resolute and strong measures to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

China, the note continues, "strongly condemns and deplores the US decision to organize the so-called stopover for Lai". The Taiwanese vice president, who will run in the 2024 presidential elections for the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, "is a troublemaker who stubbornly clings to the separatist position for Taiwan independence. The US and Taiwanese authorities ordered Lai to engage in political activities in the US in the name of a stopover, which violates the One China principle and seriously undermines China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

A story which, according to the spokesman, "demonstrates once again that the fundamental cause of the continuing tensions in the Taiwan Strait is the attempt by the Taiwanese authorities to solicit American support for independence and that the United States intends to use Taiwan to contain China.

(Unioneonline/L)

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