New Delhi: China Wednesday praised Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar for withdrawing flight permissions to Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te and asserted there was “no longer a so-called Republic of China president in the world any more”, referring to Taiwan by its formal name.
The remarks came as Lai had to cancel his scheduled five-day visit to Eswatini in south Africa from 22 to 27 April. Shortly before his visit, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked airspace access for Lai’s flight.
Taiwan said the permits were revoked after Beijing threatened the three countries with economic coercion. It is the first time an international visit by a Taiwanese president has been cancelled due to denial of overflight rights.
China’s foreign ministry, in a statement, said, “All 53 African countries, except Swaziland, have established diplomatic relations with China… They have repeatedly stated their firm adherence to the one-China principle, reiterated that there is only one China in the world, that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China’s territory, and that the government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.”
The statement added that African countries firmly support all efforts by China to achieve national reunification.
“The relevant countries’ adherence to the one-China principle is entirely in accordance with international law and the basic norms of international relations, for which China expresses its high appreciation. The facts are very clear: the so-called ‘President of the Republic of China’ no longer exists in the world,” it read.
Madagascar and Seychelles said they withdrew access to Lai’s flight on the grounds that the countries do not recognise Taiwan. Mauritius did not offer a separate public statement on its reasons.
The ministry’s statement continued: “The one-China principle is the will of the people… no one can stop the historical trend of China’s eventual reunification. The separatist attempts of the ‘Taiwan independence’ forces are futile and will inevitably lead to their own destruction.”
Taiwan’s foreign ministry responded Wednesday, calling “on the international community to recognise the hegemonic nature of China’s bullying” and its infringements on its sovereignty.
Taiwan is recognised by 12 states globally—among them Eswatini, the only African nation to do so, along with the Vatican and several Caribbean countries.
Over 180 countries, including India and the US, recognise the People’s Republic of China as representative of the Chinese people. Under the One China Policy, all such countries also formally recognise Taiwan as part of China.
The aborted trip would have been Lai’s first international visit since November 2024, when he travelled to Palau, Marshall Islands and Tuvalu—three Pacific island-states that maintain ties with Taiwan.
Sino-Taiwanese relations have deteriorated sharply since Lai, whom Beijing has labelled a “separatist”, assumed presidency in 2024. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has governed Taiwan since 2016, and the diplomatic chill has been accompanied by a series of Chinese military exercises near the island.
The Taiwan question is expected to feature in discussions between US President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, who are expected to meet in Beijing next month.
Washington maintains strategic ambiguity over the island’s status: while it holds formal diplomatic relations only with Beijing, it has continued to engage with Taiwan on security and other matters.
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