The US Department of State yesterday said that any stopovers by President William Lai (賴清德) would be "in line with past practice, and fully consistent with our longstanding policy."
In an e-mailed response to CNA's inquiry regarding US policies on Taiwanese presidential transits and their consideration of relations with Beijing, the department said that stopovers by high-level Taiwan officials are "undertaken with consideration for the safety, comfort, convenience and dignity of the passenger."
Photo: Reuters
On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters after he met with Chinese Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi (王毅) in Malaysia that Wang had not warned him against "welcoming" Lai.
Taiwanese local media, citing an unnamed source, reported today that Lai plans to make stopovers in New York and Dallas, Texas, during state visits next month to Taiwan's allies in Central and South America, including Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize.
In response to the report, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US said there was nothing to announce at the moment, but that the Presidential Office would release any arrangements as required.
Presidential Office spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) echoed the statement, saying the office would inform the public in due course about any relevant arrangements if they are confirmed.
Lai made US stopovers in Hawaii and Guam during a trip to the South Pacific late last year.
Next month's stopovers would be his first in the continental US since taking office, if they materialize.
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