Stopovers 'to see strong response'

The foreign ministry in Beijing yesterday condemned a brief US visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai, saying he is a separatist and "troublemaker through and through" and Beijing will take strong steps to protect its sovereignty.

Lai, front-runner to be next president at elections in January, arrived in New York late Saturday on what is officially a transit to Paraguay for the inauguration of its president.

China has repeatedly denounced Lai's trip, which includes another stopover in San Francisco on Wednesday on his way back to Taipei.

The ministry said it opposed any form of visit by "Taiwan independence separatists" to the United States and that "Lai stubbornly adheres to the separatist position of Taiwan independence."

"China is closely following developments and will take resolute and vigorous measures to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity."

China has an especial dislike of Lai, who has previously described himself as a "practical worker for Taiwan independence", though he has repeatedly said on the campaign trail he is not seeking to change the status quo, but that only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

China, Taiwanese officials say, is likely to launch military drills this week, using Lai's stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of the January election and make them "fear war."