US EditionTaiwan’s president lands in Eswatini in a trip delayed by lack of overflight clearance
Lai said the trip will deepen ties and promote cooperation after several countries revoked overflight permits under Chinese pressure.
- Taiwan President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini to "affirm our longstanding friendship" after his government postponed the trip due to revoked flight permits from three African nations.
- Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked flight permits for the original April 22 trip, with Taiwanese officials citing "strong pressure from the Chinese authorities" and economic coercion as reasons.
- Lai stated the visit aims to deepen friendship through closer economic, agricultural, cultural, and educational ties, following careful arrangements by his diplomatic and national security teams.
- Eswatini remains Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa, a relationship that excludes the nation from tariff-free access to China's market; former President Tsai Ing-wen last visited the landlocked nation of around 1.2 million in 2023.
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President Lai Ching-te recently had to cancel a planned visit to Eswatini after the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar closed their airspace.
China tried to prevent a state visit to the only diplomatic ally of Taipei in Africa by means of a sham. On Saturday, President Lai Ching-te suddenly showed up there.
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te was finally able to travel to Eswatini after Beijing had pressured three countries to block his overflight. L的Eswatini remains the only of the 12 African countries to recognize Taiwan, resisting Chinese diplomatic and economic pressureTaiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Saturday began an official surprise visit to Eswatini, a small landlocked state in Southern Africa and the only diplomatic ally of Taipei in Afri…
Taiwan’s leader visits Eswatini despite pressure from China to block trip
NewsFeedTaiwan’s leader William Lai Ching-te is visiting Eswatini, the only country in Africa that recognises Taiwan, despite China’s efforts to block the trip. Trade agreements were signed between Taipei and Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, which is the only African nation still under tariffs from Beijing.Published On 3 May 20263 May 2026Click here to share on social mediashare-nodesSharegoogleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo Article Attribution | Rea…
Taiwanul are dreptul să interacioneze cu lumea şi nicio şară nu poate opri acest lucru, i-a transmis preşedintele taiwanez Lai Ching-te regelui Eswatini la sosirea sa pentru o vizită surpriză despre care Taipei afirmă că Beijingul a încercat să o oprească, în contextul în care China a qualificat vizita drept „farsă”, l-a condamnat pe Lai şi l-a numit obolan”, informază Reuters.
Last month, China pressured Lai to stop traveling to the African country, but this time the Taiwanese president flew there secretly.
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