Lai Ching-te has cancelled a planned visit to Eswatini after several African nations withdrew permission for his aircraft to use their airspace, with Taiwan blaming pressure from China.
Taiwan’s presidential office said on Tuesday that three countries Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar had revoked previously granted overflight permits without prior notice.
“According to our understanding, the actual reason was intense pressure exerted by Chinese authorities, including economic coercion,” the office said in a statement.
The cancellation highlights the diplomatic challenges Taiwan faces as it seeks to maintain ties with a shrinking number of formal allies amid increasing pressure from Beijing, which claims the self-governed island as its territory.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is Taiwan’s only remaining diplomatic ally in Africa and one of just a handful of countries worldwide that maintain formal relations with Taipei rather than Beijing.
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The visit was expected to reinforce bilateral ties and demonstrate Taiwan’s continued engagement with its allies, particularly in regions where China has expanded its diplomatic and economic influence in recent years.
Taiwan officials did not provide details on whether alternative travel arrangements were considered, but said the withdrawal of overflight permissions made the trip unfeasible.
China has not immediately commented on the allegations, but it has consistently opposed official exchanges between Taiwan and countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Beijing.
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Under its “One China” policy, Beijing requires countries to sever official ties with Taiwan as a condition for diplomatic relations, a stance that has led several nations — including some in Africa — to switch recognition to China in recent decades.
Analysts say the incident reflects China’s growing leverage in Africa, where it is a major trade partner, investor and lender to many governments.
“China’s economic footprint in Africa gives it significant influence over political decisions, including those related to diplomatic engagement with Taiwan,” said a regional political analyst.
Taiwan has increasingly sought to counter its diplomatic isolation by strengthening informal ties with Western countries and deepening economic and technological partnerships.
However, maintaining formal diplomatic allies remains a key component of its foreign policy, particularly as Beijing steps up efforts to isolate the island on the global stage.
The cancellation of Lai’s trip comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in Asia and beyond, as Taiwan continues to navigate pressure from China and seek international support.
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Despite losing several allies in recent years, Taiwan has maintained strong relations with Eswatini, providing development assistance and investment support to the southern African kingdom.
Observers say such partnerships are likely to remain under strain as China continues to expand its influence and encourage countries to align with its diplomatic position.
For now, Taiwan’s government said it would continue to engage with its allies through other channels, even as logistical and political challenges complicate high-level visits.
The episode underscores the broader geopolitical contest between Taipei and Beijing, with smaller nations often caught in the middle of competing diplomatic and economic pressures.
