Goli Innocent 
The China Government has urged the United States government not to allow Tsai Ing-wen to transit through the US, saying it would be a ‘provocation’
Tsai left Taiwan on Wednesday afternoon on a 10-day trip to visit Central American allies, Belize and Guatemala.
The trip includes two stopovers, in New York on the way in, and Los Angeles on the way out.
Tsai is expected to meet with the speaker, Kelvin McCarthy in California but there hasn’t been an official confirmation.
“If she contacts US House Speaker McCarthy, it will be another provocation that seriously violates the one-China principle, harms China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and destroys peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait,” Zhu Fenglian, the office’s spokesperson told a news conference.
“We firmly oppose this and will definitely take measures to resolutely fight back.”
The one-China principle is a domestic Chinese edict that makes clear the government’s claim over Taiwan.
Shortly before her departure on Wednesday, Tsai told the media external pressure would not stop Taiwan from engaging with the world.
“Taiwan’s determination to go to the world will only become stronger and stronger,” she said. “We are calm, confident, unyielding, and non-provocative.”
Speaking at Taoyuan airport where she was joined by the ambassadors of Guatemala and Belize, Tsai said Taiwan would defend the values of freedom and democracy.
“When the international community needs Taiwan, Taiwan will contribute. And if Taiwan encounters difficulties, partners will also support Taiwan.”
Taiwan’s foreign minister, Joseph Wu tweeted a photo from inside the plane before take-off.
“I’m excited to accompany (Tsai) again on a trip to visit our allies Guatemala & Belize. Heard that it’s very warm there, weather or otherwise.”
Beijing intends to annex Taiwan under what it terms “reunification”. Taiwan’s democratically elected government and a large majority of its people reject the prospect of Chinese rule.
The US does not recognize Taiwan as a country but is a strong supporter of its efforts to resist Beijing’s increasing efforts at military intimidation and diplomatic coercion.
The US government had said Tsai’s stopover – her sixth through the US since becoming president in 2016 was “normal” and warned Beijing not to use it as a pretext for aggressive behaviour.
In August last year, in response to a visit to Taipei by then-US speaker Nancy Pelosi, China’s People’s Liberation Army surrounded Taiwan’s main island with days of live-fire drills, disrupting sea and air traffic.
Pelosi’s successor, Republican Kevin McCarthy, had said he would like to visit Taiwan, but a meeting with Tsai in California has been interpreted by observers as an attempt to avoid a repeat of the Pelosi visit.
A US official said that a McCarthy meeting with Tsai would not signal any escalation from the US side.
“Members of Congress have met with the Taiwan president on nearly every transit” by Taiwanese leaders in the past, the official said.
