China pledges to 'safeguard sovereignty' after Taiwanese leader visits US

China has pledged to take "Forceful measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity" after condemning a visit by Taiwan's Vice President William Lai Ching-te to the United States. List 1 of 4 Taiwan VP says China military action to US stopover would be interference. List 4 of 4 China vows 'forceful measures' as Taiwan's vice president arrives in US. end of list. China claims Taiwan as its territory and has denounced the transit stops in the US, calling Lai a separatist "Troublemaker". China especially dislikes Lai because of comments he has previously made about being a "Practical worker for Taiwan Independence", though he has pledged on the campaign trail to maintain the status quo and offered talks with Beijing. While in the US, Lai gave speeches to the Taiwanese community and met officials from the American Institute in Taiwan, a US government-run non-profit that handles unofficial relations. Taiwanese officials have said China is likely to conduct military exercises this week near the island, using Lai's US stopovers as a pretext to intimidate voters ahead of next year's presidential election and make them "Fear war".