Taiwanese President's Trip Canceled Amid Chinese Pressure

Wed Apr 22 2026 11:16:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te canceled a visit to Eswatini after African nations revoked flight permits under alleged Chinese influence.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has had to cancel a trip to Eswatini after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked flight permits for his aircraft, reportedly due to pressure from China. This unprecedented move raises concerns about China's growing influence over diplomatic relations in Africa, as Lai criticized the coercive actions and emphasized Taiwan's resolve to engage globally despite such challenges.

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has cancelled a trip to the southern African nation of Eswatini, accusing China of putting pressure on other countries to bar his aircraft from flying over their territories.

Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked Lai's flight permits after intense pressure and economic coercion from China, said a Taiwan official. China denied coercion, while praising the three Indian Ocean nations saying it had high appreciation for them.

This is the first publicly known instance where Taiwan's leader has had to cancel a trip due to revoked flight permits. Eswatini is one of 12 nations which are diplomatic allies of Taiwan and the only one in Africa.

According to news agency Reuters, Seychelles and Madagascar said they took the decision because they do not recognize Taiwan. Taiwanese officials claimed that the three African countries revoked the flight permits unexpectedly and without prior notice.

China adheres to the one China principle in which Beijing asserts sovereignty over Taiwan, though many in Taiwan consider themselves to be a sovereign nation. Beijing sees the self-governed island as a breakaway province that will eventually be part of the country and has not ruled out the use of force to achieve this.

The Chinese government has been vocal in its dislike of Lai, whom it has previously described as a troublemaker and a destroyer of cross-strait peace.

In a statement on X, Lai criticized China's coercive actions, saying that it exposed the risks authoritarian regimes pose to the international order. No amount of threats or coercion will shake Taiwan's resolve to engage with the world, he added.

The government of Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, expressed regret over Lai's inability to visit, stating that this would not change the status of their longstanding bilateral relationship. Lai was due to spend April 22 to 26 in Eswatini to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession and the king's birthday. Taiwan announced that a special envoy will be appointed to attend the celebrations on Lai's behalf.

At a press briefing, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office commented on the situation, stating that Beijing appreciated the position and actions of the relevant countries in upholding the one-China principle. The situation has garnered reactions not just from Taiwan and China, but also from US lawmakers who criticized the African nations for their decisions amidst alleged coercion by Beijing.