New Delhi: The President of Taiwan Lai Ching-te has cancelled his trip to the African country of Eswatini, accusing China of taking “coercive actions” to prevent the visit Tuesday. Lai has asserted that Beijing has pressured three other African countries to cancel the permissions given for his aircraft to fly over their airspace.
“China’s coercive actions undermine the status quo, once again exposing the risks authoritarian regimes pose to the international order. Ahead of my visit to Eswatini, several countries along our flight route abruptly revoked overflight clearance under pressure from China,” Lai said in a statement on social media platform X.
He added: “No amount of threats or coercion will shake Taiwan’s resolve to engage with the world or diminish our contributions to the global community. Our determination to build friendships around the world with like-minded partners remains steadfast despite external pressure.”
Eswatini is one of the 12 countries which continues to recognise the sovereignty of Taiwan. Lai was scheduled to travel for the celebration of the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne.
Lai was scheduled to depart for Eswatini Thursday. Pan Meng-an, secretary-general of the presidential office of Taiwan said Tuesday in a news conference in Taipei that three countries—Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar—had unilaterally cancelled permission given for Lai’s plane to fly over their airspace.
“It is understood that the unannounced cancellation of flight permits by Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar was actually due to strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion,” the Taiwanese presidential office said in a statement.
The statement added: “This unprecedented act of coercing a third country to change its sovereign decision not only impacts aviation safety and violates relevant international norms and practices, but also constitutes blatant interference in the internal affairs of other countries, disrupts the regional status quo, and hurts the feelings of the Taiwanese people.”
Taiwan is a self-governing territory that is recognised as a province of China by over 180 countries globally including India. The recognition of Beijing’s sovereignty over Taiwan is a part of the ‘One China Policy’.
While countries may not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, informally countries continue to trade and sign agreements with Taipei. However, in recent years, cross-strait ties between Taipei and Beijing have cratered.
It is rare for a trip of the Taiwanese President to be cancelled. China has taken particular exception to Lai, whom Beijing has in the past termed a “separatist”. Furthermore, China has used its diplomacy, particularly economic means, to further reduce the number of countries that recognise Taiwan.
Beijing has maintained close ties with a number of African countries including Madagascar, Seychelles and Mauritius.
The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been in power in Taiwan since 2016. Lai, in particular, has come under Beijing’s scanner, as the DPP has repeatedly called Taiwan a “sovereign country” and asserted that only the Taiwanese people could decide its future.
Lai has not made an international visit since November 2024. His last international visit was to three countries in the Pacific—Marshall Islands, Tuvalu and Palau—which included transit stops in the US’ state of Hawaii and overseas territory of Guam.
Eswatini remains the only country in Africa that recognises Taiwan as a sovereign country. The remaining 11 countries that recognise Taiwan are: Guatemala, Haiti, Paraguay, Tuvalu, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Belize, Marshall Islands, Palau and the Holy See.
The trip to Eswatini was scheduled to be a five-day visit that began Thursday and ended on 27 April. Now a special envoy will represent Lai at the 40th anniversary celebrations of King Mswati III.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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