US Accuses China of Pressuring African States to Ground Taiwan President's Trip
Taiwan said the move forced the first cancellation of a presidential foreign trip after three African states withdrew flight permits, officials said.
- On Tuesday, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te cancelled his planned visit to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar unexpectedly revoked overflight permits for his aircraft, marking the first time a Taiwanese leader has abandoned a trip due to airspace denial.
- Claims of 'intense pressure' and economic coercion from Beijing prompted the airspace closures, according to Taiwanese officials, though China's Taiwan Affairs Office denied these allegations and asserted the nations acted independently in upholding the 'One-China' principle.
- Condemning the move as an 'abuse of the international civil aviation system,' the U.S. State Department stated these nations acted 'at the behest of China' to interfere in the dignity of routine travel by Taiwan officials.
- Beijing expressed 'high appreciation' for the countries' adherence to the 'One-China' principle, while Eswatini officials stressed that the cancellation would not change the status of their longstanding bilateral relationship with the island.
- The European Union and Britain's de facto ambassador to Taiwan, Ruth Bradley-Jones, warned that airspace decisions should not be made for political ends, citing the need for transparency and predictability in sovereign aviation decisions.
29 Articles
29 Articles
China Pushes Back Against US Criticism Over Taiwan Flight Block
China has rejected criticism from the United States over alleged pressure on African countries to deny airspace access to Taiwan’s president. The dispute centers on a cancelled trip by Lai Ching te after several nations withdrew flight permissions at short notice. Taiwan reported that Seychelles Mauritius and Madagascar revoked previously granted overflight clearances for a […] The post China Pushes Back Against US Criticism Over Taiwan Flight B…
US says China used 'intimidation' to block Taiwan leader's Africa trip
The United States slammed China's "intimidation campaign" on Wednesday after several African countries were reportedly pressured by Beijing to derail an official trip by Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te by revoking overflight permits.
U.S. blasts countries as serving China's interests by blocking Lai's flight
Washington, April 22 (CNA) The United States government on Wednesday criticized the three African countries that revoked overflight clearances for President Lai Ching-te's (賴清德) planned trip to Eswatini this week, saying they had yielded to China's political demands.
US criticizes China's pressure on African countries to block Taiwan president's trip
The United States expresses concern as African nations reportedly denied Taiwan's president airspace access at China's direction. This action is seen as an abuse of international aviation rules. The incident marks a new Chinese strategy to isolate Taiwan internationally. The US urges Beijing to cease its pressure tactics against Taiwan and its supporters.
US accuses China of pressuring African nations to block Taiwan president’s flight; Beijing praises ‘relevant nations’
“This is yet another case of Beijing waging its intimidation campaign against Taiwan and Taiwan's supporters around the world, abusing the international civil aviation system, and threatening international peace and prosperity,” said the State Department spokesperson
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