Taiwan’s president visits East-West think tank as China criticizes his 2-day visit to Hawaii

Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — Taiwan’s president visited a U.S. State Department-funded think tank and educational institution on the second day of a two-day visit to Hawaii that’s part of a Pacific island tour that has already triggered criticism from Beijing. Lai Ching-te met and exchanged gifts with the president of the East-West Center. He was to deliver remarks to an audience but journalists were escorted out of a conference hall before he began speaking. China’s Foreign Ministry says it “strongly condemned” U.S. support for Lai’s visit and has lodged a complaint with the U.S.