Published On 4/23/2026
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te announced the postponement of his visit to the Kingdom of Eswatini, after three African countries – Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar – refused at the last minute to grant his presidential plane permission to cross their airspace, in an unprecedented development that reveals the expansion of Chinese influence on the African continent, and brings to the forefront the raging battle of diplomatic legitimacy between Beijing and Taipei.
Yesterday, Wednesday, Lai intended to go to Eswatini, Taiwan’s only remaining African ally, to participate in the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne, but the Taiwanese presidential office announced that the trip could not be carried out following simultaneous decisions by the three countries to cancel transit permits without prior warning, according to what was reported by Reuters.
Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, Ban Ming-an, held China fully responsible, stressing that the decisions were the result of intense economic pressure exerted by Beijing. Reuters quoted a Taiwanese security official as saying that China threatened economic sanctions, including canceling debt relief facilities, to put pressure on these countries. This is the first time that a Taiwanese president has been forced to postpone a foreign tour due to Chinese pressure.
Between Chinese gratitude and American criticism
On the other hand, Seychelles and Madagascar denied that their decision was linked to external pressures, adhering to the “one China” policy. The Seychelles Foreign Ministry reported that the Taiwanese plane did not obtain transit or landing permission, in line with the government’s established policy of not recognizing Taiwan’s sovereignty. A Madagascar Foreign Ministry official also stressed that Malagasy diplomacy only recognizes one China, and that the decision was taken within the framework of full sovereignty over the country’s airspace. As for Mauritius, it has not issued any official clarification yet.
On the other hand, the Chinese Foreign Ministry was quick to express its “high appreciation” to the African countries that adhered to the one China principle, according to a statement reported by Agence France-Presse. A ministry spokesman said that this position is consistent with the basic rules of international relations, adding that China’s reunification path is historic and no one can stop it.
The Taiwan Affairs Office in Beijing – according to the Chinese newspaper South China Morning Post – also denied the accusations against China, and merely praised what it described as the “position and practice” of the three countries in adhering to the one China principle.
For its part, the US State Department criticized what it described as a “campaign of intimidation” led by Beijing against Taiwan and its supporters, expressing its concern about a number of countries withdrawing transit permits. The ministry said – according to Agence France-Presse – that these countries acted at the behest of China, by interfering in the safety of travel of Taiwanese officials.
The American position comes despite the fact that Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan, even though it remains the most prominent guarantor of its security, while President Donald Trump is expected to meet with his Chinese counterpart next month.
Wider context
Today, Taiwan only has official diplomatic relations with 12 countries, most of which are small islands in Latin America, the Caribbean and the Pacific, after Beijing intensified its efforts to win over Taipei’s allies through infrastructure projects and development financing. The last of these transformations took place in Nauru in early 2024, after similar steps from Honduras and Nicaragua.
The incident reflects the escalation of Chinese-American rivalry in Africa, as the atmosphere of African countries themselves has become a testing ground for Beijing’s diplomatic and economic influence. With the growing Chinese presence on the continent, Beijing’s latest message seems more eloquent than a traditional diplomatic statement: the price of alignment has become clearer, while the margin of neutrality for African partners is narrowing.
