TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Taiwanese government has yet to confirm details about President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) rumored diplomatic tour to Latin American allies or potential stopovers in the United States. Karen Kuo (郭雅慧), spokesperson for the Office of the President (總統府) told reporters on Tuesday (July 15) that no official information was available regarding the president's travel plans. Kuo emphasized that any confirmed itinerary would be announced to the public according to standard protocol.
International media has already begun reporting on the unconfirmed diplomatic journey. Reuters indicated that President Lai intends to embark on a tour of Taiwan's Central and South American diplomatic partners in August, which would constitute his second foreign trip since his inauguration. The reported schedule includes official visits to Paraguay, Guatemala, and Belize, with technical stopovers in New York and Dallas — a sensitive arrangement that typically draws scrutiny from Beijing.
The Reuters account further revealed that Paraguay's President Santiago Peña has publicly affirmed his nation's continued diplomatic recognition of Taiwan while announcing the anticipated August visit by President Lai. Paraguay represents one of Taiwan's dwindling formal diplomatic allies as China intensifies efforts to isolate the self-governed island on the international stage. ◼