President Lai Ching-te returned to Taiwan after an unannounced visit to Eswatini, saying Taipei will not yield to pressure from Beijing. China reportedly persuaded the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to deny overflight rights, forcing Lai to take a longer route across the southern Indian Ocean. The trip — to mark King Mswati III's 40th accession anniversary — underscored Taiwan's determination to maintain diplomatic ties and international engagement. The U.S. State Department called Taiwan a 'trusted and capable' partner.
Taiwan Will Not Yield: President Lai Returns After Eswatini Visit China Tried To Block
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Eswatini Thulisile Dladla, arrives at a press conference upon returning from Eswatini, at Taoyuan International Airport, in Taoyuan, Taiwan, May 5, 2026. REUTERS/Ann Wang
President Lai Ching-te returned to Taiwan on Tuesday after a discreet visit to Eswatini, declaring that Taipei will not bow to external pressure. The delegation rerouted across the southern Indian Ocean to avoid flight information regions reportedly influenced by Beijing.
Visit and Route
Lai landed in the small southern African kingdom — formerly Swaziland and one of only 12 countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan — to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession. The trip, which neither government announced in advance, proceeded despite objections from Beijing.
Taiwanese officials said China persuaded three Indian Ocean states — the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar — to deny overflight permission when Lai initially planned the trip last month. To avoid those flight information regions, Lai's aircraft followed a longer southern arc across the Indian Ocean, then passed over Australia’s Christmas Island and parts of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines before entering Taiwanese airspace and landing at Taoyuan International Airport.
Diplomacy, Defiance And Reactions
Lai Ching-te said the journey demonstrated Taiwan's determination to engage with the international community. He told reporters:
"The world belongs to everyone. Taiwan belongs to the world. Taiwanese people are citizens of the world. Taiwanese people have the right to engage with the world. We will not retreat in the face of suppression."
FILE PHOTO: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te speaks at a press conference on defence spending in Taipei, Taiwan November 26, 2025. REUTERS/Yimou Lee/File Photo
Eswatini's Deputy Prime Minister, Thulisile Dladla, accompanied Lai and had travelled to Taipei only a week earlier as the king's special envoy. Parts of the trip used the king's private A340, which had previously been operated by Taiwan's China Airlines.
China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory and opposes formal state-to-state ties for the island, criticized the visit. State commentators had likened Lai to a 'rat' for what they called a furtive trip, while Beijing continues to call Lai a 'separatist'. The Chinese government did not issue an immediate official response to Lai's return.
The U.S. State Department described Taiwan as a 'trusted and capable' partner and said Taipei's global relationships, including ties with Eswatini, produce tangible benefits.
Context
Lai's visit follows a Pacific tour in late 2024 with stopovers in Hawaii and Guam. Taiwan's government says it will continue to pursue diplomatic engagement and protect the island's international space despite diplomatic pressure from Beijing.
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