TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's foreign ministry firmly rejected reports that the United States blocked President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) planned transit through New York. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA, 外交部) spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) addressed the controversy at a Tuesday (July 29) press conference, categorically denying any delay, cancellation, or American disapproval of presidential transit arrangements. The clarification comes amid swirling diplomatic speculation about Taiwan's relationship with the incoming Trump administration.
The spokesperson emphasized that Taiwan's Presidential Office (總統府) maintains full authority over announcing official travel schedules at appropriate times. Officials had declared one day earlier that President Lai currently has no immediate international travel plans, citing domestic priorities including southern typhoon recovery efforts, ongoing U.S. tariff negotiations, and complex regional diplomatic dynamics. These factors collectively influence the timing of any potential presidential visits abroad.
President Lai had originally scheduled an August diplomatic tour to Paraguay, Guatemala, and Belize, including planned stopovers in New York and Dallas. The Financial Times reported that American officials explicitly informed Taiwan that the president cannot transit through New York. This reported decision reflects Beijing's diplomatic pressure and occurs against a backdrop of escalating regional tensions and sensitive trade negotiations between major powers. ◼