We have to 'fight together to prevent war', Taiwan's Lai says in US

HONOLULU, Hawaii — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said in the United States on Saturday that we have to "fight together to prevent war", as he kicked off a week-long tour of the Pacific that has sparked fiery rhetoric from Beijing.

Taiwan faces the constant threat of a military attack by China, which it considers part of its territory and regularly deploys fighter jets and warships around the self-ruled island to press its claims.

Washington is Taipei's most important partner and biggest provider of weapons, but maintains a "strategic ambiguity" when it comes to putting boots on the ground to defend the island from China.

Speaking at a dinner in the US island state of Hawaii on Saturday, Lai said there were "no winners" from conflict and "we have to fight, fight together to prevent war."

Lai earlier received a standing ovation as he walked down a red carpet for the gathering with US government officials, state politicians, members of Congress, and Taiwanese expatriates.

He said the US flag and Hawaii state flag given to him as a gift "symbolise the longstanding friendship between Taiwan and the United States and lays the foundation for further cooperation in the future."

The chairperson of the American Institute in Taiwan, the body that serves as the de facto US embassy, said the partnership between Washington and Taipei was "rock solid".

"The opportunity for you to engage with thought leaders, the diaspora's community and state and local leaders is invaluable, and I know will contribute to further strengthening the rock solid US-Taiwan partnership," Laura Rosenberger said in a pre-recorded video played at the dinner.

Like most countries, Washington does not recognize Taiwan diplomatically but maintains close unofficial ties.

Beijing opposes any international recognition of Taiwan and its claim to be a sovereign state and especially bristles at official contact between the island and the United States.

In a statement, China's foreign ministry said it "strongly condemns" the United States for Lai's stopover and that it had "lodged serious protests with the US".

"China will closely follow the developments and take resolute and strong measures to defend our