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

TAIPEI, Aug 2 (Reuters) – 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…