Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te is set to embark on a diplomatic tour of the South Pacific later this month, visiting three key island nations that are increasingly under China's sphere of influence.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will visit the self-governing island’s allies in the South Pacific, where rival China has been seeking diplomatic inroads

China lashed out after the last U.S. stopover by a Taiwanese president with 3 days of military drills around the island democracy.

Taiwan's presidential office has outlined details of President Lai Ching-te's upcoming trip to Taiwan's Pacific allies Tuvalu, the Marshall Islands and Palau. But, they did not confirm whether the president will transit in the United States as is being reported.