Taiwan Defense Minister’s Washington Trip Canceled Over China Concerns
The English division of webangah News Agency cited Reuters via Mehr News Agency, reporting that the Financial Times wrote the pentagon called off a scheduled military meeting with Taiwan’s Defense Minister, Wellington Koo, over President Donald Trump’s concerns about straining U.S.-China ties.
According to the Financial Times citing informed sources, Taiwan’s defense minister was expected to visit Washington in June for talks with Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s third-ranking official. However, the United States canceled the meeting at the last minute.
Sources said that Washington initially told Taipei that because of ongoing U.S.actions against Iran, it was not an opportune time for such a visit. Yet others indicated there where additional reasons behind the cancellation.
The sources added that American officials worried Koo’s trip might jeopardize ongoing trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing and hamper President Trump’s efforts toward a potential summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.Neither the white House nor the Pentagon nor Taiwan’s embassy in Washington have confirmed or commented on this report.
Previously, the Financial Times reported that Tsai Ing-wen, president of Taiwan, canceled her planned trip to Central America after her supporters’ aircraft was barred from making a brief stop in Washington by indisposition from Trump management officials. in an official statement, Taiwan’s presidential office said Tsai had no plans for foreign travel soon due to heavy involvement in post-typhoon recovery efforts in southern Taiwan and ongoing tariff negotiations with the United States.
Tsai had intended to include stops in New York on August 4 and Dallas ten days later as part of visits to Paraguay, Guatemala, and Belize-Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies. According to sources close to planning efforts, late last week uncertainty arose after Taiwanese officials failed repeatedly to reach American counterparts for confirmation or approval of these plans.
The sources explained that amid delicate trade talks between Washington and Beijing and growing concern over disruptions potentially caused by tsai’s travel or any upcoming Trump-Xi summit meeting discussions put pressure on White House officials who consequently declined contact attempts from Taipei.
