US State Department cancels UN envoy's trip to Taiwan

NEW YORK - The cancellation of all travel by the US State Department this week includes a planned visit to Taiwan by US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft, said a State Department spokesperson on Tuesday.

Craft had been due to visit Taiwan from Wednesday to Friday, prompting China to warn that Washington was playing with fire. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday that all travel this week had been cancelled, including a trip by him to Europe, as part of the transition to the incoming Biden administration.

Reuters