Taiwan cancels Eswatini visit after neighbors block airspace

Taiwan’s president canceled a planned visit to Eswatini after three African countries revoked his plane’s permission to pass through their airspace, which Taipei said was due to “intense pressure from China.”

Lai Ching-te was to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of the ascension of King Mswati III; Eswatini is the only African country with official diplomatic relations with Taipei. But Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar have withdrawn their overflight authorizations; China insists that Taiwan is one of its provinces.

Beijing has since praised the three countries, saying “a just cause enjoys abundant support” and denied Taiwan’s allegations of economic coercion. China has spent the past decade deepening ties with African governments through loans, infrastructure projects and diplomatic ties. African states that once stood between Taipei and Beijing have gradually aligned themselves with China – from Nigeria’s forced downgrading of Taiwan’s function in 2017 to Burkina Faso’s diplomatic shift in 2018. Eswatini is the only holdout.