Vice President Lai Ching-te’s upcoming trip abroad is set to include two brief stops in the United States.
The main purpose of Lai’s trip is to represent Taiwan at the inauguration of Honduran President-elect Xiomara Castro on January 27. However, he and his delegation will stop in Los Angeles for a night while en route to Honduras. They will then spend a night in San Francisco on their way back to Taiwan.
While in California, Lai is expected to meet with Chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan James Moriarty. The American Institute in Taiwan is the United States’ de facto embassy in Taiwan.
An unnamed State Department official has said that Lai’s visit to the United States will not be an official visit. The official said that the US will ensure that Lai’s visit will be safe, comfortable, convenient, and dignified. The official also said that Lai’s planned visit does not contravene the United States’ “one China policy”.