Taiwan leader makes delayed visit to Eswatini after China objections
President Lai Ching-te says in a speech that Taiwan has "the right to embrace the world and engage with the world," but China has said he "skulked" his way to Eswatini "like a rat scurrying across the street".
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te walks with Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini upon arriving in Eswatini, May 2, 2026. (Photo: Taiwan Presidential Office/Handout via REUTERS)
MBABANE, Eswatini: Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te on Saturday (May 2) announced his arrival in Eswatini, Taipei's only diplomatic ally in Africa, after an earlier trip was cancelled when several countries revoked overflight permits.
Those various African nations withdrew overflight permission following "intense pressure" from Beijing, one of Lai's closest advisers said at the time, forcing cancellation of the initially scheduled April 22-26 trip.
Lai on Saturday said only that his initial visit had been "suspended due to unexpected external forces".
But "after days of secret arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams, we arrived successfully today (Saturday)," he said in a Facebook post.
"I hope this trip will contribute to even deeper friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, thanks to closer economic, agricultural, cultural and educational links, as well as promote Taiwan's international cooperation," he added.
"The 23 million Taiwanese people have the right to embrace the world and engage with the world," Lai said in a speech before the Eswatini royal family and assembled dignitaries.
"And no country has the right and no country should ever block Taiwan from contributing more to the world," he added.
Late on Saturday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said Lai had "skulked" his way to Eswatini.
"Lai Ching-te's despicable conduct — like a rat scurrying across the street — will inevitably be met with ridicule by the international community," a spokesperson said in a statement.
Taiwan's China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said Lai did not need Beijing's permission to go anywhere.
"The Taiwan Affairs Office's fishwife's gutter talk is boring in the extreme," it added.
Earlier on Saturday, China's foreign ministry accused Lai of making a "stowaway-style escape farce" that made him "an international laughing stock".
"No matter how the DPP authorities collude with external forces ... it is all in vain and cannot change the fact that Taiwan is part of China," an unnamed spokesperson said in a statement on the ministry's website, referring to Lai's Democratic Progressive Party.
"We urge Eswatini and other individual countries to see clearly the general trend of history ... and not pull chestnuts out of the fire for a handful of 'Taiwan independence' separatists," the statement said.
Eswatini, a small enclave kingdom formerly known as Swaziland, is one of 12 countries that still recognise Taiwan. China has persuaded other nations to break diplomatic ties with the self-ruled island, which it claims as part of its territory.
Lai was due in Eswatini in April for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession to the throne, but cancelled the visit after the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight permissions, "unexpectedly and without notice", according to his office.
