Yesterday the Financial Times reported that the Trump administration DENIED a trip to New York by the president of Taiwan, as part of his trip to Central America.

Bloomberg is reporting this somewhat differently, saying the US is still considering whether to allow the visit to New York, citing trade talk concerns with China.

Here’s more:

The Trump administration is debating whether to allow a planned US stopover by Taiwan’s leader next week as concerns mount that it could derail trade talks with China and a potential summit with President Xi Jinping, according to people familiar with the matter.

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te was planning to stop in New York on Aug. 4 and then Dallas ten days later as part of a trip to diplomatic allies Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize, Bloomberg reported earlier this month. Planning for the trip was thrown into flux late last week when Taiwanese officials couldn’t get their US counterparts to give the green light, the people said.

The hesitation over allowing Lai’s trip has unnerved some officials in the US as well as in Taipei who fear President Donald Trump may concede too much to China as he seeks a meeting with Xi, the people said. Bloomberg reported earlier that Trump’s administration was reaching out to CEOs to accompany him on a possible trip to Beijing later this year.

The White House and US State Department didn’t reply to requests for comment made outside normal working hours.

“Any such claims are pure speculation, based on incorrect information,” said Lii Wen, a spokesperson of the Presidential Office in Taipei. “The Presidential Office announces relevant plans publicly after all arrangements have been confirmed.”

The US has delayed such trips in the past, and could yet suggest an alternative timeframe and layover locations. Last year, Lai pushed back a planned transit through Hawaii and Guam by several months following a Biden administration request to wait until after the US election, according to a person familiar with the matter.

I figured there was more to this story than what the Financial Times reported. I’ll let you know if I find official word from the Trump administration on the actual facts of this reporting.