Taiwan Presidential Trip Disrupted Over Airspace

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te postponed a trip to Eswatini this week after three African states revoked overflight permits for his aircraft hours before departure. (abcnews.com) Lai had been scheduled to visit Eswatini from April 22 to April 26 at the invitation of King Mswati III for the 40th anniversary of the king’s accession and his 58th birthday, Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said. Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar then “suddenly and without warning” withdrew clearance for the chartered presidential plane, the ministry said on April 22. (en.mofa.gov.tw) Taiwan presidential secretary-general Pan Meng-an said the permits were pulled under “strong pressure” from China, including economic coercion. Eswatini said it regretted the canceled visit and said the interruption did not change bilateral ties. (abcnews.com) The practical issue was simple: a head-of-state flight needs advance permission to cross controlled airspace, and losing those approvals can ground a trip even when the destination still wants the visit. The U.S. State Department said the countries responsible for those air routes should use that authority for aviation safety, “not to serve as a political tool for Beijing.” (aol.com) Washington called the episode an “abuse of the international civil aviation system” and said it was the first time a Taiwan president had to cancel a full overseas trip because airspace access was denied. An European Union spokesperson and Britain’s de facto ambassador in Taipei also said such decisions should be transparent and not made for political ends. (aol.com) The trip mattered because Eswatini is Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa and one of just 12 countries worldwide that still recognize Taipei rather than Beijing. Taiwan lost Nauru in January 2024, after earlier diplomatic switches by Honduras in 2023 and Nicaragua in 2021. (abcnews.com) Beijing says Taiwan has no right to conduct state-to-state relations because China regards the island as part of its territory. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office praised the three African countries for adhering to the “one China principle,” and the Foreign Ministry rejected U.S. criticism on April 23. (channelnewsasia.com) (straitstimes.com) Seychelles and Madagascar publicly said they do not recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty, and Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry said those statements showed China was behind the reversal. Mauritius did not immediately respond to press requests cited by the Associated Press. (en.mofa.gov.tw) (abcnews.com) Taiwan has sent presidents to Eswatini before; former President Tsai Ing-wen visited in 2023 without this kind of disruption. This time, the route itself became the pressure point, and Taipei is casting that shift as a new way to limit its leaders’ travel even when a partner country is still willing to host them. (abcnews.com) (aol.com)