Part 4/6:
Further complicating the situation are the diplomatic strains between Taipei and Beijing, which have intensified following Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's recent visits to American territories including Hawaii and Guam. Beijing has expressed strong disapproval of these engagements, perceiving them as a move by Taiwan toward independence backed by the United States.
In a response to these claims, Taiwanese officials have firmly rejected Beijing’s assertions of sovereignty, maintaining that the future of Taiwan lies in the hands of its own citizens.