Donald Trump Quashes China Summit Rumors: 'No Interest'
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Report: Taiwan President Cancels Latin America Trip After US Denies NYC Stop
Above: Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te during a visit at the Songshan military airbase in Taipei on March 21, 2025. Image copyright: I-HWA CHENG/AFP/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
While this report isn't confirmed, the Trump administration would be right to prioritize crucial trade negotiations with China over a symbolic Taiwan visit. With billions in trade at stake and a potential Trump-Xi summit on the horizon, allowing Lai's stopover would unnecessarily provoke Beijing and derail progress on resolving the tariff war.
Establishment-critical narrative
Blocking Taiwan's democratically elected president from a routine transit would send a dangerous signal that America can be bullied by Beijing into abandoning longstanding commitments. This would break decades of bipartisan precedent and make Taiwan a bargaining chip in trade negotiations, undermining U.S. credibility with democratic allies.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 6.7% chance China will enact an export ban on a rare earth element to the United States before Sept. 1, 2025, according to the Metaculus prediction community.