Taiwan Lai Arrives in Eswatini After Flight Ban
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- China pressured Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to revoke overflight permits for Lai’s flight, causing a delay.
- Lai arrived in Eswatini on Saturday, confirming the visit only after landing and pledging to deepen economic, agricultural, cultural and educational ties.
- Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that Taiwan is the “biggest risk,” underscoring Beijing’s broader diplomatic pressure on Taipei.
Why it matters: Taiwan's President Lai's arrival in Eswatini, after three nations revoked overflight permits under Chinese pressure, preserves Taiwan's sole African diplomatic ally and shows China's capacity to disrupt Taiwan's diplomatic travel.
