Taiwan's President visited a U.S. State Department-funded think tank and educational institution in Hawaii as part of a Pacific island tour, drawing criticism from Beijing. Lai Ching-te exchanged gifts with the president of the East-West Center at the University of Hawaii's Manoa campus. China condemned U.S. support for the visit and a recent U.S. weapons sale to Taiwan.
Lai's visit to Hawaii is part of a weeklong voyage that includes stops in the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and Palau, three of the 12 countries with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The East-West Center promotes relations among the U.S., Asia, and the Pacific, making it a fitting location for Lai's visit.
