TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink on Thursday (March 30) called on China to refrain from overreacting to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) transit in the U.S.

Speaking to reporters, Kritenbrink said that "There is absolutely no reason for China to overreact to this longstanding, routine practice." "Unilateral attempts to change the status quo will not pressure the United States government to alter our longstanding practice to facilitate transits through the United States," he added.

The assistant secretary reaffirmed Washington’s “one China” but noted that Tsai has transited through the United States six times before "without incident."

Tsai is currently embarking on a trip to Taiwan’s Central American allies, Belize and Guatemala, but had a brief layover in New York City. On her return journey, she will also stop in Los Angeles where she is expected to meet with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

China's Taiwan Affairs Office spokesperson Zhu Fenglian (朱鳳蓮) warned that China would "definitely take measures to resolutely fight back" if Tsai met with McCarthy, per Reuters. China's charge d'affaires in the U.S, Xu Xueyuan (徐學淵), said such a meeting "could lead to another serious confrontation in the China-U.S. relationship."

"We have made solemn representations to the U.S. side on many occasions and clearly told them that all consequences should be borne by the U.S. side," she said.