Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen aims to shore up her government’s diplomatic ties with three of its remaining allies with a visit next week to Palau, Nauru and the Marshall Islands.
Deputy foreign minister Hsu Szu-chien said talks were ongoing about a possible stopover in US territory – a move that would likely anger Beijing, which regards Taiwan as a breakaway province to be brought back to the mainland fold, by force if necessary.
The aim of the eight-day visit, starting on March 21, was to “deepen ties and friendly relations” with Taiwan’s Pacific allies, Hsu said.
A person with knowledge of the matter said the stopover would most likely be in Guam or Hawaii, with the chance of at least one visit to US territory “very high”.
China says Taiwan has no right to state-to-state relations. The island has formal ties with 17 countries, almost all small, less developed nations in Central America and the Pacific, like Belize and Nauru.
Taipei has accused Beijing of offering generous aid and loan packages to lure its allies away, accusations Beijing denies.