TAIPEI: Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will make sensitive stops in the United States on her way to and from Central America, which could cause tension between China and the US but Taipei's government wouldn't confirm a meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.
Taiwanese presidents pass through the United States frequently while visiting diplomatic allies in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific, which while not official visits are often used by both sides for high-level meetings.
The United States, like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic relations with Chinese-claimed Taiwan, but is its most important international backer and arms supplier.
China is concerned about Tsai's US transit plans, which have already been widely reported in Taiwanese and international media.
Sources told Reuters that McCarthy intends to meet her during the California leg of her visit.
Asked whether he could confirm the McCarthy meeting, Taiwan Vice Foreign Minister Alexander Yui said details of the US transits would be given at a later date once arrangements had been finalised.
An infuriated China staged war games near Taiwan in August after a visit by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.