UNDAUNTED AND ONBOARD:
Visit follows overflight delays attributed to Chinese pressure, as Lai aims to strengthen Taiwan-Eswatini ties and affirm international engagement
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By Su Yong-yao / Staff reporter
President William Lai (賴清德) announced in a social media post earlier today that he has arrived in Taiwan’s diplomatic ally, Eswatini.
“After days of meticulous planning by the foreign affairs and national security teams, the delegation successfully arrived. Despite the slight delay, the people of Eswatini gave us a warm and enthusiastic welcome,” Lai wrote in a Facebook post.
Lai was invited to attend celebrations on April 25 marking King Mswati III’s 58th birthday and the 40th anniversary of his reign.
Photo: Ann Wang, Reuters
The visit had originally been scheduled for April 22, which would have marked Lai’s second overseas trip since taking office in May 2024.
However, on the eve of his departure, the Presidential Office suspended the trip after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked overflight permissions, a move Taipei has attributed to Chinese pressure.
Additional reporting by CNA
