Taiwan president cancels Eswatini trip, blames Chinese pressure on African countries


FILE PHOTO: Taiwan President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech after inspecting reservists operating a Taiwan made Hummer 2 Drone during a training session at Loung Te Industrial Parks Service Center in Yilan, Taiwan December 2, 2025. REUTERS/Ann Wang/File Photo

TAIPEI, April ⁠21 (Reuters) - Taiwan President ⁠Lai Ching-te's trip ‌to Eswatini this week has been cancelled after three ​African countries withdrew ⁠permission for ⁠him to fly over their ⁠territories ‌to get there, his ⁠office said on Tuesday, ​blaming ‌Chinese pressure.

"According to our ⁠understanding, ​three countries - the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar - ⁠unilaterally revoked flight ​permits for the presidential aircraft without prior warning. ⁠The actual reason was intense pressure exerted by Chinese authorities, ​including economic ⁠coercion," the presidential office ​said in ‌a statement.

(Reporting by ​Ben Blanchard; Editing by Andrew Heavens)

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