China condemns visit of ‘troublemaker’ Taiwan VP to US

Taiwan’s Vice President William Lai arrives at Taoyuan International Airport before his departure to the United States for a stopover in New York on his way to Paraguay, in Taoyuan, Taiwan August 12, 2023. REUTERS/Carlos Garcia Rawlins BEIJING, Aug 13 (Reuters) – China’s foreign ministry on Sunday condemned a brief U.S. visit by Taiwan Vice President William Lai, saying he was a separatist and “troublemaker through and through” and Beijing would take strong steps to protect its sovereignty. Lai, front-runner to be Taiwan’s next president at elections in January, arrived in New York late on Saturday for what is officially…