China said on Wednesday it had “high regard” for African countries after several flight permit revocations curtailed a planned trip by Taiwan’s leader to Eswatini, the island’s only diplomatic ally on the continent.
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes the self-governing island’s participation in international organizations and exchanges with other countries.
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te was due to visit Eswatini from Wednesday for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession and his 58th birthday.
But some countries – including Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar – unexpectedly revoked Lai’s flying permits after “intense pressure” and economic coercion from China, a Taiwanese official said on Tuesday.
“The relevant countries maintained support for the one-China principle, fully in line with … the basic norms of international relations, China expresses high appreciation,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said in a statement.
“No one can stop the historic trend of China’s final reunification,” said the statement issued in response to the revoked permits.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is among Taiwan’s 12 remaining allies that still recognize its claim to citizenship after Beijing persuaded others to cut diplomatic ties with Taipei.
An Eswatini government spokesman told AFP he “regrets” Lai was not visiting, but stressed the setback “does not change the status of our long-standing bilateral relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan)”.
