Members of three groups in San Francisco Bay Area gathered on Thursday to protest Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen's planned stopover in San Francisco on Friday as she returns from a Central American trip.

In a joint statement, Chinese for Peaceful Unification-Northern California, Chinese for Peaceful Unification-West America, and Committee to Promote the Reunification of China-San Francisco said Tsai's real intention was to "transit" through the US to challenge the one-China principle.

"As overseas Chinese, we firmly believe the peaceful reunification of China is an inevitable and irresistible trend. We advise Tsai Ying-wen to recognize the international situation and give up the unrealistic 'Taiwan independence' attempts as early as possible," says the statement.??

"We will keep a close eye on her secessionist activities and attempts, and firmly oppose the 'two Chinas' and 'Taiwan independence"', the statement says.

En route to Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador, Tsai arrived in Houston on Jan 7 and left the following day. On her return, she will arrive in San Francisco on Friday.

In Houston, Tsai met with Texas Republican politicians, including US Senator Ted Cruz. In San Francisco, she was expected to meet with some political dignitaries as well on Saturday, according to Fred Tzou, president of Chinese for Peaceful Unification-Northern California.

Although Tsai's itinerary was not released, the groups have managed to get the information, and a protest is organized at her hotel on Saturday, said Tzou.

"At least 200 people have been mobilized to attend the protest," he added.

Tzou said that since Tsai took office in May, she rejected the 1992 Consensus, and the good relationship that had been maintained between both sides across the Taiwan Straits has been affected.

"Domestically, she promotes 'cultural Taiwan independence', internationally, she is willing to be used by the US and Japan like a chess piece," he said.

At the press conference, Guobao Wu, honorary president of the Committee to Promote the Reunification of China-San Francisco, said the older generation of overseas Chinese has benefited from the growth of China, and the growth was a result of the peaceful development in cross-Straits relations.

"Taiwan independence" will not only hurt the interests of Taiwan people but also jeopardize the interests of all the Chinese people, he said.

"As the world's largest two economies, the US and China should have a friendly and healthy relationship based on mutual respect and equality," says the joint statement. "We hope the new administration in the US will adhere to the one-China policy and support the peaceful development of cross-Straits relationship."

liazhu@chinadailyusa.cm