BEIJING (Reuters) -China urged the United States on Friday to exercise the "utmost caution" on relations with democratically governed Taiwan, ahead of a sensitive trip its President Lai Ching-te starts this week to both Hawaii and Guam,

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will stop over in Hawaii and Guam during his trip to the South Pacific, in a move expected to draw objection from China. Lai is due to depart Taiwan on Saturday for a weeklong trip to visit the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau — three diplomatic allies of the self-ruled island.

China's military on Thursday vowed to defeat all attempts at secessionism and urged the United States not to send the wrong signals on Taiwan independence, ahead of a trip by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te to Hawaii as part of a Pacific tour.