China has started a military exercise near Taiwan.
Lai, who is one of the candidates for Taiwan’s presidential election next year, recently stopped in both New York and San Francisco during a trip to Paraguay.
China has called Lai a troublemaker and vowed to take “resolute and forceful measures to protect national sovereignty”.
Taiwan condemns the exercise
“The Ministry of Defense condemns such irrational and provocative behavior, and will send appropriate forces in response … to defend Taiwan’s freedom, democracy and sovereignty,” Taiwan responded in a statement from the Ministry of Defense.
China views self-governing Taiwan as part of its territory and has stated that it will one day take over the island, by force if necessary.
In recent years, China has regularly shown displeasure with political activities in Taiwan by increasing the number of military planes it sends to the island.