Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has arrived in Los Angeles, where she is expected to hold talks with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Tsai arrived in the US city on Tuesday for a stopover on her way home after visiting two Central American countries.

People gathered in front of a hotel where Tsai is expected to stay during the visit. Some held banners to welcome her, while others waved Chinese flags in protest.

Tsai is due to meet McCarthy and a bipartisan group of members of Congress on Wednesday. She is likely to reaffirm the need to boost cooperation between Taiwan and the US.
On Tuesday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson reiterated Beijing's opposition to the meetings.

When then-House speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan last August, China reacted by holding massive military drills near Taiwan.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday that Tsai's transit is "private" and "unofficial." She also said, "there should be no reason for China to overreact here."

It is not rare for Taiwan presidents to stop over in the US during their trips. But US media say this is the first time talks will take place on US soil between a leader of Taiwan and a House speaker, who is by law second in line to succeed the president after the vice president.