Lai Ching-te Arrives in Eswatini China Blocks Flight
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- Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini on Saturday, two weeks after postponing a planned visit.
- Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked flight permits for Lai’s aircraft, blocking its passage through their airspace, which Taiwan attributed to Chinese pressure.
- Taiwan noted that this was the first instance of a president cancelling an entire foreign trip due to airspace denial, suggesting a new Chinese strategy to limit Taiwan’s diplomatic outreach.
- Lai posted on Facebook and X that Taiwan will not be deterred by external pressures and will continue to engage with the world.
- China Foreign Ministry accused Lai of “secretly slipped aboard a foreign aircraft” and “lavishly squandering public funds,” while the United States and European Union expressed criticism and concern over China’s actions.
Why it matters: Taiwan’s effort to preserve its dwindling diplomatic network is being throttled by China’s airspace bans, forcing the president to seek alternative routes and prompting U.S. and European criticism. The move tightens Beijing’s leverage over Taiwan’s allies while exposing the island’s vulnerability to travel restrictions.
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