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,

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.

Lai Ching-te is visiting Pacific nations of Tuvalu, Palau and the Marshall Islands as well as US territories of Hawaii and Guam

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te starts a trip this week that will see him transit both Hawaii and Guam, as part of a Pacific tour.

The United States is set to host Taiwan President Lai Ching-te during stopovers in Hawaii and Guam as part of the first international trip of his tenure, defying protests from China. Lai, who took office in May,