The Trump administration reportedly blocked Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te from a New York stopover after China's objections, aiming to avoid disrupting trade talks and a potential summit. Critics fear this signals a softening US stance on Taiwan to appease China,

Donald Trump’s administration has blocked Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te from a stop in New York en route to Central America, after China raised objections with Washington about the visit.

Lai reportedly approached the Heritage Foundation, a prominent conservative think tank, to host an event in New York with him at the helm, one source told Financial Times.

Taiwan’s leader Lai Ching-te suffered a string of high-profile political setbacks over the past week, wounding his presidency at home and abroad. With a US tariff deadline looming, things could get worse.