Taiwan President Lai Ching-te on Saturday announced his arrival in Eswatini – Taipei’s only diplomatic ally in Africa – after an earlier trip was canceled when several countries revoked flight permits.
Those various African countries withdrew permission to fly after “intense pressure” from Beijing, one of Lai’s closest advisers said at the time, forcing the cancellation of the trip originally planned for April 22-26.
Lai said on Saturday only that his initial visit had been “suspended due to unexpected external forces”.
But “after days of secret negotiations by diplomatic and national security teams, we successfully arrived today (Saturday),” he said in a Facebook post.
“I hope this trip will contribute to an even deeper friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, thanks to closer economic, agricultural, cultural and educational ties, as well as promote Taiwan’s international cooperation,” he added.
“23 million Taiwanese have the right to embrace the world and engage with the world,” Lai said in a speech to the Eswatini royal family and gathered dignitaries.
“And no country has the right and no country should ever block Taiwan from contributing more to the world,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, China’s foreign ministry accused Lai of an “escape-style escape farce” that made him “an international laughing stock”.
“No matter how the DPP authorities cooperate with outside forces … it is all in vain and cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China,” an unnamed spokesman said in a statement on the ministry’s website, referring to Lai’s party.
“We call on Eswatini and other individual countries to clearly see the overall trend of history … and not pull chestnuts from the fire for a handful of ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists,” the statement said.
Eswatini, a small enclave kingdom formerly known as Swaziland, is one of 12 countries that still recognize Taiwan. China has persuaded other nations to cut diplomatic ties with the self-governing island, which it claims as part of its territory.
Lai was due to go to Eswatini in April for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne, but canceled the visit after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar canceled flight permits, “suddenly and without warning”, according to his office.
