Overview
- President Lai Ching-te arrived Saturday in Eswatini, Taiwan’s only African ally, after an April trip was suspended when Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight clearances.
- Taiwan blamed Chinese pressure for those revocations, a claim Beijing rejected as it denounced the visit as a “laughable stunt” and accused Lai of “smuggling” himself out.
- Lai met King Mswati III, received full ceremonial honors and witnessed the signing of a mutual assistance agreement on customs that both sides said would deepen trade ties.
- The travel route has not been disclosed, though local reports said Lai flew on the king’s jet, and Taiwan revealed the trip only after landing to reduce the risk of outside interference.
- The U.S. State Department said Monday the travel is routine and should not be politicized, a stance that reflects wider concern that using overflight permissions as leverage could erode civil aviation norms.