Reference News Network August 1 report, according to the UK's Financial Times website on July 30, the United States canceled a meeting between the head of the defense affairs department of the Taiwan authorities and the US in June, which has made Taipei more concerned that President Trump is unwilling to support Taiwan in a way that may anger China.

The report said that Gu Lixiong was originally scheduled to go to Washington to conduct defense negotiations with Deputy Secretary of Defense Erich C. Kohlby. However, according to several sources, the US canceled the meeting at the last minute.

The US said that the timing was not appropriate for Taiwan because the US is fighting Iran. But several sources said there are other concerns in the US. Some US officials worry that allowing the head of the defense affairs department of the Taiwan authorities to visit would disrupt the US-China trade negotiations.

The report said that the US and Taiwan are discussing a new meeting date. However, sources said that the US hopes to hold a meeting with officials of lower rank than Gu Lixiong, which has increased concerns that Trump wants to avoid angering China. A US official said it is unclear what level of meeting will be held.

The cancellation of the meeting comes against the background of Lai Ching-te facing a difficult time. According to the Financial Times on the 28th, the White House rejected Lai Ching-te's request to stop over in New York on his way to Central America.

Last weekend, Taiwanese activists launched a recall vote against more than 20 Kuomintang legislators, but none were recalled in the end.

The report said that Xiao Yanran, head of China affairs at Eurasia Group, said that the US decision to cancel the meeting "will further undermine Lai Ching-te's party position, as he has just experienced a major political defeat, shaken the unity of the Democratic Progressive Party he leads, and emboldened the opposition."

Ryan Hass of the Brookings Institution said that delaying Lai Ching-te's transit came against the background of "Taipei becoming increasingly anxious, as people believe that Trump is seeking to ease tensions with Beijing." (Translation by Hu Guanghe)

Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7533459553497874994/

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