Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te Visits Eswatini Amidst Chinese Pressure

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has successfully visited Eswatini, the only African nation maintaining formal ties with Taiwan. This visit comes after a delay caused by several countries retracting flight permissions under Chinese pressure. Lai emphasized Taiwan's commitment to strengthening economic and cultural ties with Eswatini, despite external challenges. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized the visit, asserting Taiwan's status as part of China. This diplomatic engagement highlights the ongoing tensions between Taiwan and China, as well as the complexities of international relations in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 2, 2026, 19:20 IST

Taiwan's Diplomatic Journey to Eswatini

Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has successfully arrived in Eswatini, marking a significant diplomatic visit just days after his trip was postponed due to several countries retracting their flight permissions, allegedly under pressure from China. In a message shared on X, Lai expressed his commitment to strengthening the long-standing friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, the only African nation that maintains formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.

Initially, Lai was set to visit Eswatini on April 22, but Taiwanese officials reported that flight permits were rescinded by Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar due to intense pressure from Chinese authorities, which included economic threats.

In a separate update on Facebook, Lai highlighted that his visit was made possible through meticulous planning by his diplomatic and national security teams. He emphasized that this trip aims to enhance economic, agricultural, cultural, and educational collaborations between Taiwan and Eswatini.

Lai reaffirmed Taiwan's determination to engage globally, stating that external pressures would not deter their resolve. Notably, the details of his visit were not disclosed prior to his arrival.

In response, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs criticized Lai's visit, labeling it a 'laughable stunt' and claiming he was 'smuggled' out of Taiwan. The ministry condemned Lai's actions as 'undignified' and reiterated that Taiwan is an integral part of China, urging Eswatini and other nations to reconsider their support for Taiwan's independence.

China has consistently threatened military action to assert control over Taiwan and has actively worked to isolate it diplomatically. In 2023, Tsai Ing-wen, Lai's predecessor, was the last Taiwanese president to visit Eswatini, which has a population of approximately 1.2 million and is the only African nation excluded from tariff-free access to China's market due to its ties with Taiwan.

Recently, Taiwan's government expressed alarm after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi described Taiwan as the 'biggest risk' in US-China relations during a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.