Taiwan’s President Lai Arrives in Eswatini After China Blocked His Previous Trip Through African Airspace

Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini on Saturday, May 2nd, 2026, in a surprise visit that came exactly two weeks after his original trip to the African nation was cancelled when three Indian Ocean states revoked permission for his aircraft to transit their airspace—a move Taiwan’s government squarely attributed to pressure from Beijing.

The successful arrival marks a diplomatic breakthrough for Lai after the humiliating cancellation in April, which represented the first time a Taiwan president had been forced to call off an entire foreign trip due to denial of overflight rights.

“Taiwan will never be deterred by external pressures,” Lai wrote on his official X account after arriving. “Our resolve and commitment are underpinned by the understanding that Taiwan will continue to engage with the world—no matter the challenges faced.”

Eswatini: Taiwan’s Only African Ally

Eswatini remains Taipei’s sole remaining diplomatic ally on the African continent and one of just 12 countries globally that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan. The vast majority of the island’s remaining partners are in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Pacific—a list that has shrunk significantly as Beijing’s influence has expanded.

The Blocked April Trip

Lai had originally planned to travel to Eswatini to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne. But the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—all states that manage airspace over parts of the Indian Ocean—unilaterally revoked flight permits for Lai’s aircraft within days of the planned departure.

China’s Foreign Ministry, responding to the successful May 2nd visit, said Lai had “secretly slipped aboard a foreign aircraft and sneaked out of Taiwan, lavishly squandering public funds.”

The Geopolitical Context

The episode unfolding on the sidelines of a U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran—which has pushed global oil prices sharply higher—adds another layer of complexity to Taiwan’s diplomatic positioning. With Brent crude above $100 per barrel, energy-rich African nations have a growing stake in maintaining relationships with major powers.

For Eswatini, however, the relationship with Taiwan remains firmly anchored. The kingdom has consistently rejected Beijing’s overtures, maintaining that its ties with Taipei serve its national interests.

For now, the successful arrival in Mbabane offers Lai a measure of vindication after the April cancellation—and a reminder that even in the face of coordinated pressure, Taiwan’s diplomatic relationships can, for now, still hold.

Sources: Reuters, BBC, France 24, Taiwan Presidential Office