The Keystone Cops at CBS News

Leave it to the big brains in the network executive suites to look at a map of Asia and say, "Yeah, that looks close enough."

As the major networks gear up for an extensive week of coverage from the Chinese capital, it seems one network forgot to check the expiration dates on their passports—or, you know, actually secure a visa.

Semafor broke the news that NBC’s Tom Llamas and ABC’s David Muir will both be anchoring live from Beijing this week. Not to be outdone—well, outdone logistically, anyway—CBS News had grand plans to send CBS Mornings co-anchor Tony Dokoupil right alongside them.

Except there’s one tiny, minor, hilarious catch: Dokoupil isn’t in China. He’s in Taiwan.

According to sources on the CBS morning planning call Wednesday, the network was forced to pull a massive U-turn at the last second. Instead of anchoring from Beijing, Dokoupil will be broadcasting from the Taiwanese capital of Taipei.

Why the sudden change of scenery? Apparently, Dokoupil couldn't get a Chinese visa.

Now, whether CBS simply forgot how to fill out government paperwork in a timely manner, or if the Chinese government looked at the application and said "No thanks," remains a mystery. CBS News, shocking absolutely no one, declined to comment. The Chinese Embassy in Washington also didn't bother to reply to inquiries.

But hey, look on the bright side, CBS! Taipei is only about 1,000 miles away from where the actual story is happening. If Tony stands on a really tall ladder in Taipei, maybe he can see Muir and Llamas across the Taiwan Strait.

You can just picture the promo now: "Live from... adjacent to the region where the news is happening, we bring you unrivaled, sort-of-close coverage!"