US urges China against ‘overreacting’ to Taiwan president transit

Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen addresses the media on March 29 before her departure to New York, as she makes her way to Guatemala and Belize [Ann Wang/Reuters]

The White House has urged China to avoid “overreacting” to a planned stopover in the United States by Taiwan’s president, calling the transit “normal”.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby stressed on Wednesday that the transit by President Tsai Ing-wen is in line with US policy, which acknowledges China’s claim over the self-ruled island.