BANGKOK -- Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will embark on the first overseas visit of his term, seeking to shore up relations with three Pacific countries as well as the U.S. as China ramps up its threats.
Lai is due to depart Saturday for a visit to the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau -- the only Pacific countries among Taiwan's 12 formal diplomatic partners. He is expected to make transit stops in the U.S. state of Hawaii and territory of Guam, weeks before President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House in January.
