China on Wednesday expressed “high appreciation” for several African countries that withdrew overflight permissions for the plane of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, forcing him to cancel a planned visit to Eswatini.
Beijing regards self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes the island having official diplomatic ties with other states. Lai had been scheduled to visit Eswatini, Taiwan’s only remaining African diplomatic ally, from April 22-26.
The trip was called off after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unexpectedly revoked flight permits. A Taiwanese official said the moves followed “strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion.” China denied exerting economic pressure but simultaneously praised the three countries for their actions.
“Relevant countries maintained support for the one-China principle, completely in line with … the basic norms of international relations, China expresses high appreciation,” the Chinese Foreign Ministry said. The statement added, “No one can stop the historical trend of China’s eventual reunification.” A spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office quoted Mencius, saying, “A just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little support.”
Seychelles and Madagascar said they acted because they do not recognize Taiwan. Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry criticized the decisions as being “in servitude of China,” and reiterated that the Republic of China is a sovereign state with the right to engage internationally, a right no country should obstruct.
Eswatini’s government said it “regrets” Lai’s absence but stressed that the cancellation does not change the status of its long-standing bilateral relations with Taiwan. Eswatini is one of just 12 countries that maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
The episode followed a recent meeting in Beijing between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Taiwan opposition leader Cheng Li-wun of the Kuomintang (KMT). The opposition has urged Beijing to show restraint and to allow Taiwan diplomatic space. “I think mainland China’s pressure is not clever, especially after the Cheng-Xi meeting,” senior KMT lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao told reporters in Taipei.
Several U.S. lawmakers also raised concerns. “This is not diplomacy; it is economic pressure aimed at isolating a democratic partner,” the U.S. House Select Committee on China wrote on X.
Edited by: Sean Sinico