TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) 鈥 Taiwan鈥檚 vice president left Saturday on a trip to Paraguay to reinforce relations with his government鈥檚 last diplomatic partner in South America at a time when China is stepping up efforts to isolate the self-ruled island democracy.
William Lai鈥檚 trip includes stops in San Francisco and New York City, which Beijing criticized Washington for allowing. The mainland鈥檚 ruling Communist Party claims Taiwan as part of its territory and says it has no right to conduct foreign relations.
Lai was due to attend the inauguration of on Tuesday.
Lai said he would meet officials of other governments 鈥漵o that the international society understands Taiwan is a country that persists in its democracy, human rights and freedom and actively takes part in international affairs.鈥
Paraguay is part of a dwindling group of 12 governments that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. They are mostly small, poor countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Taiwan lost a partner this year when Honduras switched official recognition to Beijing.
Taiwan and China have been ruled separately since a civil war that ended in 1949. They both claim sovereignty over each other鈥檚 territory and refuse to have relations with governments that recognize the other side.
China鈥檚 vastly larger economy and population mean most governments have official relations with Beijing, though many, including the United States, maintain informal relations with Taiwan.
Pe帽a visited Taiwan in July and told President Tsai Ing-wen his country would 鈥渟tand with the people of Taiwan鈥 during his five-year term.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping鈥檚 government has stepped up efforts to intimidate Taiwan by flying fighter jets and bombers near the island and firing missiles into the sea. Some American and European politicians have responded by flying to Taiwan in a show of support.
Taiwanese officials usually stop in the United States en route to and from Latin America and meet with U.S. officials, which irritates Beijing.
The Taiwanese government gave no indication Lai was due to meet American officials.
Lai was scheduled to have lunch Sunday in New York City with Taiwanese living there before leaving for Paraguay. En route home, he planned to stop in San Francisco for a dinner with Taiwanese there.
The Chinese foreign ministry said earlier it would 鈥渕onitor developments鈥 and was ready to take 鈥漴esolute and forceful measures to defend its national sovereignty and territorial integrity.鈥
around Taiwan in April after Tsai met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in Los Angeles while traveling home from Central America.
