Stopover policy 'unchanged': U.S. State Department

Washington, July 29 (CNA) The U.S. State Department said Tuesday that its policy on stopovers by Taiwanese leaders "has not changed" amid reports U.S. President Donald Trump had blocked a visit to New York by President Lai Ching-te (賴清德).

"The United States remains committed to our longstanding 'one China' policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances," a State Department spokesperson told CNA, under the condition of anonymity.

On July 16, Bloomberg News reported that Lai was planning to stop in New York on Aug. 4 and then Dallas 10 days later as part of a trip to diplomatic allies Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize.

However, in a follow-up report on Monday, anonymous sources cited by Bloomberg said that planning for the trip was disrupted late last week when the Trump administration, concerned it could derail trade talks with China, blocked the trip.

Similar reports from the Financial Times and Reuters were also published this week.

Asked about the trip on Monday, Taiwanese Presidential Office Spokesperson Karen Kuo (郭雅慧) said in a statement that President Lai has no immediate plans for an overseas trip due to "ongoing rehabilitation efforts in southern Taiwan following a recent typhoon and regional developments including the United States' tariffs."