President of Taiwan in Central America with double transit in the USA

(ANSA) - BEIJING, MARCH 29 - Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen is today engaged in a diplomatic mission in Central America to consolidate ties with Guatemala and Belize, with a double transit through the United States, New York and Los Angeles.

In California, Tsai is expected to meet - even if there is no official confirmation - the speaker of the American House Kevin McCarthy, in a move already harshly contested by Beijing.

Last August, then-speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to Taiwan, prompting an angry Chinese reaction that kicked off military exercises on an unprecedented scale around the island, interpreted by Taipei as rehearsals for an invasion.

The reaction of China was immediate and announced, through Zhu Fenglian, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the central government, that "

    Guatemala and Belize are among the 13 remaining countries that officially recognize Taipei and not Beijing, after Honduras opened diplomatic relations with China on Sunday, which considers the island an "inalienable" part of its territory to be reunified also with the use of force, if necessary.

After the stopover in New York, Tsai will continue his 10-day trip meeting his Guatemalan counterpart Alejandro Giammattei and the Prime Minister of Belize John Briceno, as reported by the Taiwanese presidential office.

(HANDLE).