Taiwan president has arrived in Eswatini, one of the few countries that maintains diplomatic ties with Taipei rather than Beijing, days after blaming China for the cancellation of a previous trip.

Travel Details

It remains unclear how the president reached Eswatini, as details of the travel route have not been disclosed. The visit comes amid increasing diplomatic pressure from Beijing on nations that maintain relations with Taiwan.

Reactions

China described the visit as a stowaway-style escape farce, dismissing its significance. Beijing has long maintained that Taiwan is a part of Chinese territory and opposes any official contact between Taiwan and other nations. Eswatini is currently one of only 12 countries that formally recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.

The president of Taiwan arrived in Eswatini on Sunday for a visit. The exact route of the trip remains unclear, as he had previously claimed that mainland China had obstructed his original travel plans.

Beijing Response

China described the visit as a stowaway-style escape farce. Beijing maintains its one-China principle and opposes any form of official exchanges with Taiwan.

Trip Details

The specifics of how the Taiwan president reached Eswatini have not been publicly disclosed. The unusual itinerary has sparked speculation about the route and transit arrangements.

Diplomatic Context

Eswatini is one of the few countries that still maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The visit is seen as an important diplomatic effort for Taiwan to sustain its limited international space.

Source: BBC

Lai said the visit followed “days of careful arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams,” without providing details on how he reached the country. China described the visit as a “stowaway-style escape farce.” Beijing has long viewed Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to conduct state-to-state relations.

Images showed Lai being welcomed by Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini as he walked past a guard of honour. Taiwan’s presidential office confirmed that Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and National Security Council Adviser Alex Huang were also part of the delegation.

Lai’s visit was not announced in advance by either government. The trip had originally been scheduled for April 22-26 to mark the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne. It was suspended after Taiwan said Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar had unilaterally revoked flight permits for Lai’s aircraft, citing Chinese pressure.

On social media, Lai wrote: “Taiwan will never be deterred by external pressures. Our resolve and commitment are underpinned by the understanding that Taiwan will continue to engage with the world — no matter the challenges faced.” He praised Eswatini for “standing firm against various diplomatic and economic pressure, speaking out for Taiwan’s international place through concrete actions.”

Lai’s schedule in Eswatini includes bilateral talks with King Mswati III and signing a customs agreement.

China’s foreign ministry in Beijing said Lai had become “an international laughing stock.” A spokesperson stated: “No matter how the Democratic Progressive Party authorities collude with external forces or in what form they ‘buy the loyalty of others,’ it is all a futile effort that cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China.” Beijing also urged Eswatini to “see clearly the general trend of history” and not “pull chestnuts out of the fire for a handful of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists.”

In a related development, China announced on Friday that it was scrapping tariffs for all African countries — except Eswatini — underscoring Beijing’s displeasure at the kingdom’s continued diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Eswatini is one of just 12 small states worldwide that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

Sources: BBC News