Lai Ching-te, the Taiwanese president, is scheduled to visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau, which amount to one-quarter of the dozen states that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Beijing claims the self-governed island of Taiwan as its territory, and insists that governments end diplomatic relations with Taipei if they want full relations with China.
But Mr. Trump’s proposed cabinet includes Republicans who have been deeply distrustful of China and sympathetic to Taiwan.
Their total population is about 67,000, according to United Nations estimates, compared with Taiwan’s more than 23 million people.
But they are members of the United Nations and its bodies, while Taiwan is generally excluded.
Persons:
Lai Ching, Lai’s, Donald J, Trump, Trump’s
Organizations:
Marshall, Pacific, United Nations
Locations:
Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Palau, Taiwan, China, Beijing, Taipei, U.S