(Adnkronos) – Taiwan’s President, Lai Ching-te, has canceled his official visit to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked his plane’s overflight permits. According to Taiwanese sources cited by the BBC, the decision was made “unexpectedly and without warning” due to “intense pressure” exerted by Beijing. This is the first time – to our knowledge – that a Taiwanese leader has been forced to cancel an international trip due to the revocation of flight authorizations.
Beijing has rejected the accusations, praising the three African countries for supporting the “one China” principle, according to which Taiwan is an integral part of Chinese territory. The Chinese government considers the island a rebellious province and does not rule out the use of force to reunify it, while many Taiwanese identify themselves as belonging to a sovereign state independent of the People’s Republic. In recent months, Chinese authorities have repeatedly criticized Lai, calling him a “troublemaker” and a “destroyer of peace in the Strait.”
Commenting on the matter, Lai denounced Beijing’s “coercive actions” which “highlight the risks that authoritarian regimes pose to international order.” The president was scheduled to participate, between April 22 and 26, in the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of the ascension to the throne of Mswati III, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa. The government of Eswatini expressed regret for the cancellation of the visit, reiterating, however, that this will not affect bilateral relations, while Taipei will send a special envoy to represent the president.
