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Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has postponed his planned diplomatic tour to Central and South America next month due to severe typhoon damage and ongoing torrential rains, officials confirmed to Reuters on Tuesday. The trip, aimed at strengthening ties with Taiwan’s remaining allies, including Paraguay and Guatemala, has been delayed indefinitely.
Embassy representatives in Guatemala City and Asuncion stated that the decision follows widespread destruction caused by Typhoon Danas, which struck Taiwan’s west coast earlier this month, disrupting power grids and damaging homes. Additional flooding in southern Taiwan has worsened conditions, with authorities warning of potential landslides.
The postponed itinerary reportedly included stops in Belize and U.S. transit points such as Texas and possibly New York or Dallas. While Washington traditionally allows such transits, Beijing strongly opposes them, viewing Taiwan as its territory. Lai’s visit, initially floated for August, was expected to draw criticism from China, especially as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks progress in trade negotiations with Beijing.
A Paraguayan lawmaker recently questioned the value of maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan, highlighting increasing pressure on Taipei’s limited international recognition. Paraguay remains Taiwan’s only ally in South America.
The U.S. State Department said no official travel plans had been announced and reiterated that transit stops by Taiwanese officials align with longstanding U.S. policy.
Officials emphasized that the trip is postponed, not canceled, and may occur later this year after Taiwan stabilizes its domestic recovery efforts. The island continues to prioritize disaster relief as extreme weather impacts its infrastructure and communities.
This delay underscores Taiwan’s delicate balancing act between managing internal crises and maintaining international diplomacy amid growing tensions with China.
