WASHINGTON

The Trump administration has denied permission for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te to stop in New York on his way to Central America due to opposition from China, according to a report published Monday.

Lai had sought to stop over in New York during his August trip, in which he was to visit Paraguay, Guatemala and Belize, according to the Financial Times newspaper. Officials from President Donald Trump's administration told Lai that he would not be able to stop in New York on the way to the region, it reported, citing three anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

Lai's office told the Financial Times that he had no immediate plans to depart Taiwan as the island recovers from a recent typhoon. But the sources said Lai changed his travel plans after he was told he would not be granted permission to visit New York.

China has repeatedly protested Taiwanese presidents visiting the US, and the newspaper said it was not clear if Lai was denied permission to visit New York, or was rejected from stopping anywhere in the US.

Former President Joe Biden drew swift condemnations from Beijing when he allowed former Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen to stop in New York in 2023 when she visited Latin America.

But the reported denial for Lai comes amid ongoing sensitive US-Sino trade talks as the world's top two economies seek to negotiate an end to a spiraling trade war, as well as a potential sit-down between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.