Taiwan President Lai Ching-te cancelled a planned visit to Eswatini on Tuesday after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew overflight permissions for his aircraft, his office said.
The trip, scheduled to initiate Wednesday, was to mark the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession and the monarch’s 58th birthday in Eswatini, Taiwan’s sole remaining diplomatic ally in Africa.
Lai’s office said the sudden revocation of previously approved flight clearances came without warning and followed strong pressure from Chinese authorities, including economic coercion.
Pan Men-an, secretary general to the president, told journalists in Taipei that security officials reassessed the route and concluded the visit should be postponed for safety reasons.
Instead of travelling himself, Lai will appoint a special envoy to attend the celebrations in Eswatini, Pan said.
This is the first time any Taiwanese leader has had to delay an overseas trip at the last minute due to denied overflight rights, according to Lai’s office.
China claims self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province and has long pressured countries to cut formal ties with Taipei, often offering infrastructure financing in return.
Over the past few years, Beijing has intensified a campaign to poach Taiwan’s diplomatic allies, successfully shifting recognition from Nauru in January 2024, Honduras in 2023 and Nicaragua in 2021.
Taiwan now maintains official diplomatic relations with only 12 countries, most of them modest nations in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The last visit by a Taiwanese president to Eswatini was in 2023, when former leader Tsai Ing-wen met with King Mswati III in the southern African country of 1.2 million people.
China’s Foreign Ministry, the Mauritius government and the office of the Madagascar president did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the allegations.
Lai’s office accused China of using economic leverage to block the flight path
Pan Meng-an said the cancellation of flight permits by Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar was actually due to strong pressure from Chinese authorities, including economic coercion.
He described the moves as blatant interference in the internal affairs of other countries, disrupting the regional status quo and hurting the feelings of the Taiwanese people.
The accusation mirrors longstanding Taipei claims that Beijing uses financial incentives and diplomatic penalties to isolate Taiwan internationally.
Taiwan’s shrinking diplomatic circle reflects years of Beijing-led pressure
Over recent years, China has steadily reduced Taiwan’s number of formal allies through a combination of aid packages and political persuasion.
The switch by Nauru in January 2024 followed similar decisions by Honduras and Nicaragua, leaving Taipei with ties to just 12 states globally.
Most of these remaining partners are small, developing nations vulnerable to economic inducements or security assurances from Beijing.
Taiwan’s government says it will not engage in dollar-for-dollar competition with China for diplomatic recognition.
The cancelled trip highlights the limits of Taiwan’s symbolic outreach
Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini was intended to reinforce ties with a loyal ally through high-level presence at a national celebration.
By sending a special envoy instead, Taipei avoids risking an aircraft being denied mid-flight or forced to reroute through uncertain airspace.
The decision underscores how Beijing’s influence now extends to disrupting even routine diplomatic travel by Taiwan’s leaders.
It also reveals the fragility of Taiwan’s remaining international relationships, which depend heavily on the goodwill of states susceptible to external pressure.
Why did Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdraw overflight permission?
Taiwan’s government says the three countries cancelled previously approved flight clearances due to strong pressure from Chinese authorities, including economic coercion.
None of the three nations have publicly explained their decisions, and their governments did not respond to requests for comment.
China routinely pressures countries with which it has diplomatic ties to avoid any formal engagement with Taipei.
What does this signify for Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies?
The incident shows that even countries not switching recognition can be pressured to obstruct Taiwan’s international activities.
Taipei may face similar obstacles when its leaders attempt overseas visits, potentially limiting high-profile diplomacy.
However, Taiwan’s government says it will continue to engage with its allies through alternative means, such as sending special envoys.
