MBABANE:Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te will delay an expected trip to his country’s remaining allies in Latin America, amid conflicting accounts of the reason for the postponement, The Guardian reported this week.
It has been reported that, President Lai was expected to travel to the Americas next month, as his Government seeks to shore up support in a region where many countries have cut diplomatic ties in favour of relations with China, which claims Taiwan as its territory.
But amid reports suggesting that the Trump administration had opposed a proposed stopover by the President in New York, his government said Lai had no overseas travel plans due to domestic issues, including natural disasters and tariff negotiations with the United States.
However, one person with knowledge of the discussions told the Associated Press that the US “had asked Taipei to rearrange the transit-not go through New York.”
The Financial Times reported that, the US denied permission for Lai to stop in New York after China raised objections with Washington about the visit.
“The United States has traditionally facilitated transits by Taiwanese leaders, but Lai’s trip was bound to infuriate Beijing at a time when US President Donald Trump is trying to negotiate a deal on trade with China. Beijing regularly denounces any shows of support for Taipei from Washington.The cancellation has drawn concerns from experts that the White House is setting a bad precedent for US-China relations”, The Guardian reported.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te will delay an expected trip to his country’s remaining allies in Latin America, amid conflicting accounts of the reason for the postponement, The Guardian reported this week.