Foreign Office ‘asked for UK visit by Taiwan ex-president to be deferred’ to not anger China

Tsai Ing-wen – pictured here with the new president of Taiwan, Lai Ching-te – will be visiting several European countries this month in her first international tour since leaving office. Photograph: Sam Yeh/AFP/Getty Images

The UK Foreign Office (FCDO) asked for a visit by the former Taiwanese president to be postponed so as not to anger China ahead of a trip by David Lammy, the Guardian has learned.

Lammy is due to travel to China next week for high-level meetings in his first trip to the country as foreign secretary.