President Lai Ching-te of Taiwan on Tuesday described state visits as a 'basic right' for nations, speaking after his return from a three-day trip to Eswatini, which his government said China attempted to block.
Mr Lai was originally scheduled to travel to the African kingdom—one of Taiwan's 12 remaining diplomatic partners—last month, but cancelled the trip due to Chinese pressure, according to Taiwan's government. China had allegedly pressured three countries to revoke flight permits, denying Mr Lai transit through their airspace.
Undeterred, Mr Lai rescheduled and arrived in Eswatini on 2 May, focusing on economic, agricultural, cultural and educational cooperation. He flew on the Eswatini king's private A340, taking a longer route over the Indian Ocean to avoid airspace of Mauritius and Madagascar, both nations with strong ties to Beijing.
'Just like going out to visit friends, this is every country’s basic right,' Mr Lai said upon arrival in Taiwan. 'This trip, which was subject to obstruction, actually let the world see the Taiwanese public’s determination and will to be a part of the world.'
The visit was approved by the US Department of State, which described Taiwan as a 'trusted and capable' partner. Mr Lai also thanked Eswatini's deputy prime minister Thulisile Dladla, who accompanied the delegation, for ensuring a safe journey.
