A spokesman from the Chinese mainland strongly opposed on Wednesday any attempt by Taiwan leader Lai Ching-te to "transit" through the United States for any reason or in any form.

Lai is reportedly planning a "stopover" in New York and Texas on his way to Paraguay, Guatemala, and Belize in South America, Taiwan media reported.

Chen Binhua, a spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a news conference in Beijing that "we firmly oppose any form of official exchanges between the US and Taiwan.

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The US should adhere to the one-China principle and the provisions of the three Sino-US Joint communiques, handle the Taiwan question with extreme caution, and refrain from sending any erroneous signals to "pro-independence" forces in Taiwan, Chen said.

He warned the Lai administration that their attempts to seek separation with US support are futile and destined to fail.