Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has canceled his planned trip to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked overflight permits for his aircraft due to pressure from China. This marks the first publicly known instance of a Taiwanese leader canceling a foreign visit because of such denials.
Key Takeaways
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te canceled his trip to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked overflight permits due to Chinese pressure. This marks the first instance of a Taiwanese leader canceling a foreign visit because of airspace denials. China praised the three African nations for adhering to its 'one-China' principle, while Taiwan condemned the actions as coercion. The U.S. expressed concern and criticized China's economic pressure tactics.
- Chinese pressure led to revocation of overflight permits
- First time a Taiwanese president canceled trip due to airspace denials
- China praised African nations for adhering to 'one-China' principle
- Taiwan condemned actions as coercion, U.S. expressed concern
According to BBC, Taiwan accused Beijing of exerting "intense pressure" and economic coercion on the three African nations, which led them to revoke Lai's overflight permits. China denied these accusations but expressed appreciation for the countries' adherence to its 'one-China' principle.
The cancellation comes amid escalating diplomatic tensions between Taiwan and China. Eswatini is one of only 12 nations that recognize Taiwan diplomatically, and the trip was meant to celebrate the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession. Lai criticized China's actions on social media, stating they exposed "the risks authoritarian regimes pose to the international order."
China has long asserted sovereignty over Taiwan, viewing it as a breakaway province that will eventually be reunified with the mainland. The Chinese government has been vocal in its opposition to Lai, whom it has previously described as a 'troublemaker' and a 'destroyer of cross-strait peace.' In response to the cancellation, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that there is "no longer a so-called Republic of China president in the world," referring to Taiwan by its formal name.
The U.S. has expressed concern over the situation, with several lawmakers criticizing the three African nations for their actions. The House Select Committee on China wrote on X that this was not diplomacy but economic pressure aimed at isolating a democratic partner. Meanwhile, Taiwan's foreign ministry described the comments by Seychelles and Madagascar as being "in servitude of China."
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