China Criticizes Planned Visit of Taiwanese Presidential Candidate to the U.S.

China expressed anger on Monday regarding a planned visit next month by William Lai, the leading presidential candidate and Vice President of Taiwan, to the United States. The government stated that it sees no reason to exaggerate the reaction to what is merely a brief stopover. Typically, Taiwanese presidents and vice presidents make stopovers in the United States during visits to the few countries that still maintain formal diplomatic relations with the island, which China claims as part of its territory. This time, Lai, who supports separation from China, will stop in the United States during his trip to attend the inauguration of Paraguay's new president, Santiago Pena.