Taiwan's Vice President William Lai is undertaking a sensitive trip to the United States, which has drawn condemnation from China and raised concerns among Taiwanese officials about potential military activity from Beijing. Lai, who is a front-runner in Taiwan's upcoming presidential elections, will only be making transit stops in the US on his way to and from Paraguay for the inauguration of its president. While Taipei and Washington consider these stopovers routine, China sees them as further signs of US support for Taiwan, which it claims as its territory.

Chinese officials are expected to launch military drills near Taiwan as a response to Lai's US visit, potentially intimidating Taiwanese voters ahead of next year's election. Lai himself briefly mentioned his trip to the US and emphasized his intentions to strengthen ties with other countries and participate in international affairs during his time in Paraguay. Beijing has expressed particular dislike for Lai, who has been critical of China and described himself as a practical worker for Taiwanese independence. However, he has also stated during his election campaign that he does not seek to change the status quo.

Lai's visit to the US will be closely watched for clues on how he might handle relations with the US and China as president, as this is a crucial issue in Taiwan's presidential race. The visit is also expected to lead to an escalation of Chinese military activities near Taiwan. China's foreign ministry has already condemned Lai's visit, calling him a separatist and troublemaker and warning that Beijing will take strong measures to protect its sovereignty. Taiwan is viewed by China as a core interest, and tensions have been rising in the Taiwan Strait over the island's attempt to seek independence with US support.