Taiwan leader William Lai Ching-te visits Eswatini despite China’s objections

Taiwan’s President William Lai Ching-te insisted his government would never abandon participation in the international community during a visit to Eswatini that proceeded despite China’s attempts to prevent it.

Lai arrived in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) on Saturday (May 2) after “meticulous arrangements by diplomatic and national security teams,” as he wrote on Facebook. It remains unclear how he reached the kingdom.

He said he was greeted with “a military-style welcome ceremony.” The Taiwanese leader stated he met King Mswati III and signed trade agreements.

The trip was initially scheduled for late April, but Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar canceled his chartered aircraft’s flight permits without notice. Taiwan’s presidential office said the cancellations came after heavy pressure from Beijing, including economic coercion, calling the move “unprecedented in the international community.”

Taiwan operates as a self-governing democracy, but China considers it part of its territory and demands reunification under Beijing’s rule. Beijing insists that states must sever ties with the Taipei administration.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson called the visit a “ridiculous farce,” claiming Lai had “used a foreign aircraft to sneak out of the island” and reaffirmed that Taiwan is part of China.

China has for decades pressured countries to cut formal diplomatic relations with Taipei, leaving Taiwan with only 12 diplomatic allies, including Belize, Guatemala, Haiti, and the Vatican. Although the United States does not recognize Taiwan, it has committed to helping defend Taipei under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Eswatini is the only country on the African continent that still recognizes Taiwan. Lai thanked the king for standing with Taiwan “despite various diplomatic and economic pressures” and stressed that no country has the right to prevent Taiwan from contributing to the world.