Taiwan’s VP to transit in New York and San Francisco

Taiwan Vice President William Lai will stop in New York and San Francisco in the United States on his way to and from Paraguay for the inauguration of its new president, Taiwan’s presidential office said on Wednesday.
Taiwan’s government last month announced Lai’s transits without specifying details, drawing ire from Beijing, which slammed Lai as a separatist. The top U.S. diplomat in Taipei urged China not to take “provocative” action in response to the brief visits, describing the transits as routine.
Lai, the front-runner for the island’s presidential vote in January, will stop in New York on Aug. 12 on his way to Paraguay and in San Francisco on Aug. 16 on his way back to Taiwan, the office said.
“This should not create discomfort for other parties or become an excuse to deepen conflict,” Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yui told the news conference at the Presidential Office.