Did Trump just bow to Beijing? Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te snubbed as US blocks New York visit
Lai's office then said he had 'no plans to travel overseas in the near future', citing Taiwan's typhoon recovery and ongoing tariff talks with the US. But insiders say this public reason came after he was privately told by the US he couldn't visit New York.
Trade talks & summit pressure
The White House did not respond to media requests for comment. China and the US are currently in trade negotiations, and the Trump team reportedly froze export control plans to avoid upsetting Beijing.
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A summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping is being discussed, and Trump wants it to happen smoothly. Some US officials fear Trump may be going soft on China to make this summit happen. Trump posted on Truth Social that he might visit China, but only at Xi's invitation, which he said had been extended, as stated in the report by Financial Times.
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Is history repeating? Bonnie Glaser, a Taiwan expert, said this shows Trump wants to avoid angering China while summit plans are underway. She recalled how Trump had delayed arms sales to Taiwan and got angry when a US official visited Taiwan during his first term. Glaser warned that making Taiwan 'negotiable' weakens US strength and emboldens China.
Critics slam Trump's move
Randy Shriver, ex-US official, called the decision a 'mistake' and said it reminded him of past times the US backed off Taiwan to please China. Nancy Pelosi, who visited Taiwan in 2022, said Trump's move sends a 'dangerous signal' and shows Beijing can bully the US. 'This is a victory for Xi,' she wrote, and warned it might show a 'dangerous change' in US policy.
Background on diplomatic tensions
In 2023, President Tsai Ing-wen was allowed to stop in New York during a similar trip by the Biden administration. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and hates when Taiwanese leaders visit the US.
China has called Lai a 'separatist' and 'parasite', and it often stages military drills near Taiwan after US visits. When Pelosi visited Taiwan in 2022, China responded with huge military action around the island, as per the report by Financial Times.
Global pressure mounts
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry insisted there was no 'cancellation or US obstruction' and said they will seek a new time for the trip. Paraguay's President, who was preparing to host Lai, is now not expecting his visit next week.
Taiwan's trade officials are currently in Washington for talks, trying to avoid a 32% tariff threat. Lai's travel plan changes were also confirmed by Reuters and Financial Times.
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All Taiwan's presidents since the 1990s have done US stopovers en route to other countries. But sometimes, denied stopovers show diplomatic tensions. In 2006, President George W. Bush denied a stopover to Taiwan's then-president Chen Shui-bian due to pro-independence remarks.
Lai's New York and Dallas stops would have been his first visits to mainland US since becoming president. In December, Lai visited Hawaii and Guam, after which China sent out its largest naval deployment in years, as per the reports.
What experts are saying
Laura Rosenberger, ex-US diplomat, said putting Taiwan into negotiations sends a bad message to Beijing. She said now is the time for the US to show clear support for Taiwan, not shift goalposts under China's pressure. Taiwan's domestic politics are also tense – Lai recently survived an opposition effort to unseat lawmakers, but with low approval ratings, according to the report by Bloomberg.
The Trump administration's refusal to let Taiwan's president visit New York has sparked backlash, raised fears of US-China trade compromise, and questioned America's support for Taiwan. The situation remains tense, and it's unclear if Lai will be allowed to visit late
FAQs
Q1. Why did the US block Taiwan President Lai Ching-te from visiting New York?
The Trump administration blocked Lai's stopover after China objected and to avoid disrupting US-China trade talks.
Q2. Is the US changing its Taiwan policy under Trump?
Critics say Trump is softening on Taiwan to please China and push for a summit with Xi Jinping.
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