Taiwan’s president has departed for a trip to the South Pacific that will include a two-day transit in the U.S., his first since assuming office.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te will visit Hawaii and the US territory of Guam during an upcoming trip to the Pacific, prompting condemnations from China, which could respond by staging a fresh round of military drills near the island democracy.

Taiwan’s president departed for his trip to the South Pacific that will include a two-day transit in the U.S., his first since assuming office, though few details about his itinerary are public