NEW YORK (TVBS News) — Taiwan Vice President Lai Ching-te gave a speech to the Taiwanese-American community stressing the importance of the nation's safety and peace in New York on Sunday (Aug. 13).
The brief stop was just part of the Vice President's transit as he headed to Paraguay to celebrate the inauguration of incoming President Santiago Peña Palacios.
Though Beijing has voiced strong opposition regarding Lai's stop, releasing a statement, "deplore[ing] and strongly condemn[ing] the U.S. decision to arrange the so-called 'stopover' for Lai Ching-te."
Nevertheless, Lai attended an event for the Taiwanese-American community upon arrival, emphasizing the importance of peace and security across the Taiwan Strait.
"When Taiwan is safe, the world is safe; When there is peace in the Taiwan Strait, there is peace in the world," Lai said.
He highlighted that Taiwan is on the right path and shouldn't be afraid or backtrack due to the increasing threats from totalitarianism.
Drawing parallels to the Statue of Liberty, Lai explained his hopes of using "peace as a beacon and democracy as a compass" to protect Taiwan.
The Vice President's week-long trip will see him attending the inauguration on Aug. 15, making transit through the United States San Francisco, and returning to Taiwan on Aug. 18.