Taiwan president visits Eswatini days after blaming China for cancelled trip
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini despite a prior trip cancellation attributed to China pressuring African nations to deny airspace access. Lai praised Eswatini for resisting diplomatic and economic pressure and reaffirmed Taiwan's commitment to international engagement. China criticized the visit as a 'stowaway-style escape farce' and reiterated its claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.
- ▪Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa, after a previous trip was cancelled.
- ▪The earlier cancellation followed Taiwan's claim that Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked flight permits due to Chinese pressure.
- ▪China responded by calling the visit a 'stowaway-style escape farce' and removed tariff exemptions for Eswatini while extending them to other African nations.
- ▪Lai emphasized strengthening economic, agricultural, cultural, and educational ties between Taiwan and Eswatini.
- ▪Beijing urged Eswatini to recognize the 'general trend of history' and not support 'Taiwan independence' separatists.
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Taiwan president visits Eswatini days after blaming China for cancelled trip2 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleTaiwanese President high-fives compatriots as he arrives in EswatiniTaiwan's President Lai Ching-te has arrived in Eswatini, days after his government said a trip had been cancelled due to China pressuring African countries to stop him flying over their territories. His visit to Eswatini - Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa - followed "days of careful arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams", he said, without giving further details on how he reached the country. China described the visit as a "stowaway-style escape farce". China views Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to state-to-state relations.
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