In brief
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has been compelled to cancel a scheduled trip to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar withdrew their granted flight permits. Lai has accused China of exerting pressure on these countries to revoke the permits, a claim that the Chinese government denies. This marks the first time a Taiwanese leader has had to cancel a foreign trip due to such circumstances. The Taiwanese government will appoint a special envoy to represent Lai at Eswatini's anniversary celebrations.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has cancelled a trip to the southern African nation of Eswatini, accusing China of putting pressure on other countries to bar his aircraft from flying over their territories. Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked Lai's flight permits after intense pressure and economic coercion from China, said a Taiwan official. China denied coercion, while praising the three Indian Ocean nations saying it had high appreciation for them. This is the first publicly known instance where Taiwan's leader has had to cancel a trip due to revoked flight permits.Eswatini is one of 12 nations that are diplomatic allies of Taiwan and is the only one in Africa. According to news agency Reuters, Seychelles and Madagascar stated they made the decision because they do not recognize Taiwan. Taiwanese officials claimed that the three African countries revoked the flight permits unexpectedly and without prior notice. China adheres to the one China principle, claiming sovereignty over Taiwan, which many in Taiwan regard as a sovereign nation. The Chinese government has critiqued Lai, previously labeling him a troublemaker and a destroyer of cross-strait peace. Lai criticized China's coercive actions in a statement on X, saying that it exposed the risks authoritarian regimes pose to the international order and asserted that no amount of threats or coercion will shake Taiwan's resolve to engage with the world. Eswatini's government, while expressing regret over Lai's cancellation, affirmed that it would not alter the status of their longstanding bilateral relationship. Lai's planned trip was set for April 22-26 to celebrate King Mswati III's 40th anniversary of accession as well as his birthday. A special envoy will replace Lai at these celebrations.
