Taiwan has announced that Vice President Lai Ching-te will stop over in New York and San Francisco this month on his way to and from Paraguay. He will attend the inauguration of the new president of the South American country.

Taiwan's Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Tah-ray Yui spoke on Wednesday about Lai's trip, which will be as special envoy for President Tsai Ing-wen.

According to the itinerary, Lai will leave Taiwan on August 12, and arrive in New York on the same day.

He will stay in Paraguay from August 14 to 16, and return to Taiwan on August 18 passing through San Francisco.
Lai's schedule during the transits in the US is still being planned.

When Lai's US stopover was announced last month, China's foreign ministry said China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the US and Taiwan.

Yui stressed at Wednesday's news conference that Taiwan's vice presidents have passed through the US on numerous occasions. He said, "This should not create discomfort for other parties or become an excuse to deepen conflict."

Lai is expected to run for Taiwan's president in the election next January.

Even though it has become customary for possible presidential candidates to visit the US, China is likely to take some form of countermeasure depending on what Lai says or does during his journey.