China Praises African Nations Blocking Taiwan Flight
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- China praised Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar for denying overspace to Lai Ching‑te's aircraft, leading to his Eswatini trip cancellation.
- Taiwan reported that the three African nations revoked permission for Lai's aircraft to fly over their territories.
- Lai alleged Chinese economic coercion behind the airspace denial, a claim denied by Zhang Han of China's Taiwan Affairs Office.
- Zhang Han quoted Mencius and praised the three countries for upholding the one‑China principle.
- Eswatini spokesperson Thabile Mdluli said the cancellation does not affect the island's diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
- U.S. House Select Committee on China called the denial “economic pressure aimed at isolating a democratic partner.”
Why it matters: Taiwan loses a rare diplomatic engagement opportunity, while China secures a symbolic victory by reinforcing the one‑China narrative among African partners. The denial also prompted U.S. lawmakers to label the tactic coercive, underscoring rising diplomatic tension.
