Taiwan president's Americas trip shelved over Beijing's objections
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has reportedly shelved his planned August trip to diplomatic allies in the Americas amid reports that the Trump administration blocked a New York stopover after Beijing raised objections.
State of play: Lai was expected to travel to Belize, Guatemala and Paraguay — Taiwan's remaining diplomatic allies in the region — with U.S. stopovers planned for New York and Dallas. But on Monday, his office cited recovery from recent typhoon damage and ongoing U.S. tariff discussions as reasons he has 'no plans to travel overseas in the near future.' Embassy officials in Guatemala and Paraguay later confirmed the visit was postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, sources reportedly told the Financial Times that the U.S. blocked Lai's New York visit after Beijing objected to Washington.
Trade talk timing: The move comes amid Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's trade talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Stockholm as the Trump administration sets its eyes on a possible summit with President Xi Jinping. Bessent, however, denied any link between the travel matter and trade negotiations, saying, 'We are very careful to keep trade and national security separate.' Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce dismissed the reports, saying the situation is 'hypothetical' and that 'there have been no plans — travel plans for the president.'
The big picture: The reported decision has drawn bipartisan criticism, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warning that it sends 'a dangerous signal' showing the U.S. 'can be bullied by Beijing into silence on Taiwan.' House Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi called it 'another example of the Trump administration caving to China in hopes of reaching a trade deal.' Paraguay, for its part, also faces domestic pressure, with ruling party congressman Hugo Meza saying the country is 'wasting time' maintaining ties with Taiwan.
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The tensions follow Lai's declaration in June that 'Taiwan is of course an independent country," prompting China's Taiwan Affairs Office to denounce his statements as 'heresy,' 'hostile' and 'separatist.'
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