China Wants to Speak for Taiwan. The World Should Hear Taiwan Directly.
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- Donald Trump said on Fox News that Taiwan wants independence and that U.S. support provokes Beijing.
- Lai Ching-te postponed his planned visit to Eswatini after Mauritius, Seychelles, and Madagascar denied his aircraft overflight permission.
- China praised the three African nations for blocking the Taiwanese president’s plane and used the incident to pressure Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach.
- Taiwan was excluded from the World Health Assembly in Geneva, preventing its health experts from contributing to global pandemic discussions.
- People’s Liberation Army continued near‑daily naval and aerial patrols around Taiwan despite diplomatic tensions.
Why it matters: Taiwan’s government loses a rare diplomatic outreach opportunity, while China gains leverage to shape the narrative, weakening global health coordination and Taiwan’s ability to secure international backing.
