Taiwan deputy leader Lai Ching-te has returned home after making two controversial stopovers in the Unites States in a week-long trip.

Beijing has condemned the stopovers, accusing “Taiwan independence” forces of dragging the island into war and calamity.

Because Latin America is home to most of Taiwan’s so-called remaining diplomatic allies, a trip to these countries with US transits is a trick for some Taiwan politicians to politically engage with the US.

What has Lai Ching-te attempted to pursue during the stopover? And who is destroying peace and stability in the Taiwan Straits?

Host Ding Heng is joined by Dr. Liu Kuangyu, Researcher with the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences; Harry Targ, Emeritus Professor of Political Science and International Relations with Purdue University; Duncan McFarland from the Peace and Solidarity Commission of the Communist Party USA.