Taiwan President Visits Eswatini

Taiwan President Visits Eswatini Amid Diplomatic Tensions Taiwan President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini on Saturday, May 2, two weeks after a previously scheduled trip to the African nation was postponed due to alleged Chinese pressure on Indian Ocean states to block his flight. Eswatini remains one of Taiwan's 12 diplomatic allies, primarily small states in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.

The visit follows an incident last month where Lai's planned attendance at King Mswati III's 40th accession anniversary was canceled. Taiwan's government attributed the cancellation to Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar unilaterally revoking flight permits for Lai's aircraft, citing Chinese influence. This marked the first instance of a Taiwanese president canceling an entire foreign trip due to denied airspace access, indicating a potential shift in China's strategy to limit Taiwan's international engagement.

President Lai announced his arrival in Eswatini via social media, emphasizing Taiwan's resolve against external pressures. China's Foreign Ministry criticized the visit, stating that Lai had "secretly slipped aboard a foreign aircraft and sneaked out of Taiwan, lavishly squandering public funds," and reiterated that Taiwan is part of China. The earlier flight permit revocations had drawn criticism from the United States and concern from European Union members, Britain, France, and Germany.