Taiwan President Lai Ching‑te has cancelled a planned visit to Eswatini after three Indian Ocean states revoked overflight permits for his aircraft, a move Taipei says was triggered by “intense pressure” from Beijing.
The cancellations by Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar mark the first time a Taiwanese leader has been forced to abandon an overseas trip because flight access was withdrawn.
Lai had been scheduled to travel to Eswatini – Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa – to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne.
Eswatini is one of just 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei, a shrinking group as Beijing intensifies efforts to isolate Taiwan internationally.
Taiwanese officials said the three countries reversed their earlier approvals under economic and political pressure from China.
Beijing denied applying coercion and instead praised the governments for “upholding the one‑China principle,” which asserts that Taiwan is part of China.
Seychelles and Madagascar later confirmed they acted because they do not recognise Taiwan.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between Beijing and Taipei. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province and has not ruled out the use of force to bring it under its control.
Lai, who took office in 2024, has been repeatedly criticised by Chinese officials, who have labelled him a “troublemaker” and accused him of undermining cross‑strait stability.
In a statement posted on X, Lai condemned what he called China’s “coercive actions,” saying they “exposed the risks authoritarian regimes pose to the international order.”
He added that “no amount of threats or coercion will shake Taiwan’s resolve to engage with the world.”
Eswatini expressed regret over the cancelled visit but said it would not affect the “longstanding bilateral relationship” between the two countries.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office said it “appreciated” the actions of the three Indian Ocean states, while China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its position that the “so‑called ‘President of the Republic of China’ no longer exists,” referring to Lai’s official title.
The cancelled trip underscores the increasingly constrained diplomatic space Taiwan faces as Beijing steps up efforts to block its leaders from travelling internationally and to pressure countries to sever ties with Taipei.
JN/APA