Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said on Tuesday the self-governed island had the “right to engage with the world” after returning to Taipei from a visit to its sole African ally, Eswatini.
Lai’s plane had to take a winding route after three countries — Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar — denied overflight permission, which Taipei said followed “intense pressure” from Beijing. The trip had been scheduled for April 22–26 so Lai could attend the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession and his 58th birthday. On Saturday, Lai flew to Eswatini aboard the king’s plane.
Beijing claims democratically ruled Taiwan as a province and opposes the island’s participation in international organizations and exchanges with other countries.
Long route home for Taiwan’s Lai
Lai left Eswatini on Monday and flew a southern Indian Ocean route to reach Taiwan. Flight-tracking platforms showed the aircraft passing over Australia’s Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines before entering Taiwanese airspace and landing at Taoyuan International Airport.
What did Lai say?
China had earlier likened the Taiwanese president to a “rat” over the visit. At Taiwan’s main international airport on Tuesday, Lai said the world “belonged to everyone” and that Taiwan “will not retreat in the face of suppression.”
“Taiwanese people are people of the world; Taiwanese people have the right to engage with the world,” he told reporters. He added that the obstruction of the trip only demonstrated Taiwan people’s firm determination and will to engage internationally. He described the visit as not only exercising diplomatic rights to foster friendly relations but also as a demonstration of Taiwan’s will to uphold international order with like-minded countries.
Eswatini is one of 12 nations that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
Who are Taiwan’s official diplomatic allies?
Latin America
– Belize
– Guatemala
– Paraguay
– Haiti
– Saint Kitts and Nevis
– Saint Lucia
– Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Pacific
– Marshall Islands
– Palau
– Tuvalu
Africa
– Eswatini
Europe
– Vatican City
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar