US diplomats scrap trips to Taiwan, Europe after Capitol invasion
- All overseas travel plans cancelled, including US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft’s planned trip to Taiwan, says state department
- The announcement comes amid threats from Beijing over the planned trip to Taipei
The announcement comes amid threats from Beijing over the planned trip to Taipei and furore in Washington and Europe over the Trump administration’s role in inciting last week’s violent attack of the US Capitol building.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a staunch Trump ally, had planned to meet his counterparts in Luxembourg and the EU, but the European diplomats snubbed him after the attack last week, Reuters reported. The trip to Europe was announced less than a day before the cancellation.
“We are fully committed to the completion of a smooth and orderly transition process to be finalised over the next eight days,” department spokeswoman Morgan Ortagus said in a statement. “We are cancelling all planned travel this week, including the Secretary’s trip to Europe.”
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A state department spokeswoman confirmed that the order would apply to Craft’s planned trip to Taiwan from January 13 to 15.