Photo: Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council

In response to an inquiry regarding a Financial Times report that the Trump administration had denied permission for Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te to stop in New York en route to Central America, Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said on Wednesday that "We have taken note of the relevant report. We firmly oppose any form of official exchanges between the US and China's Taiwan region, firmly oppose Lai's attempts to 'transit' through the US under any pretext or in any form," Chen said.
 
Chen noted that the US should adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiqués, and to handle the Taiwan question with utmost prudence, avoiding sending any erroneous signals to "Taiwan independence" separatist forces. Chen also warned the Lai's authorities that attempt to seek independence by relying on the US was futile and bound to fail.  
 
Global Times