Taiwan President Lai Ching-te departed on a tour of the Pacific on Saturday, his first overseas trip since taking office.

Lai is scheduled to make a stopover in the US state of Hawaii before leaving for a number of Pacific island countries.

The move has sparked speculation that China may use the trip as an excuse to hold military exercises around Taiwan.

After Hawaii, Lai is scheduled to visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and then Palau via the US territory of Guam before returning to Taiwan on Friday.

Before boarding his plane, Lai said he will show the world that Taiwan is not only a role model for democracy but also an important force that promotes peace, stability, prosperity and development in the world. He waved to a group of ambassadors and reporters who came to see him off.

Taiwan's presidential office says while in Hawaii and Guam, Lai will attend closed meetings with think tank members and dine with people from Taiwan.

China has been stepping up pressure on Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which does not accept Beijing's assertion that Taiwan is part of China.

The number of countries that have diplomatic ties with Taiwan has decreased from 22 when the party came to power in May 2016 to 12.