Taiwan’s President Makes Surprise Trip to Eswatini |
China Power | Diplomacy | East Asia
Taiwan’s President Makes Surprise Trip to Eswatini
Lai Ching-te succeeded in making his visit to Taiwan’s lone ally in Africa just weeks after China forced a high-profile cancellation of his original itinerary.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te is greeted by an honor guard upon his arrival in Eswatini, May 2, 2026.
On May 5, President Lai Ching-te returned to Taiwan after a surprise visit to Eswatini, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa. His trip was a surprise after a month that had seen China pressure Taiwan’s diplomatic space on the African continent multiple times.
Lai had planned to visit Eswatini at the end of April to attend celebrations marking King Mswati III’s 40th year on the throne and 58th birthday. However, that trip was abruptly canceled after Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles retracted overflight permission for Lai’s plane to pass through their airspace. Politicians with the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) stated that overflight permissions had been revoked with only 12 hours’ notice, despite having originally been approved weeks in advance.
As such, Lai’s arrival in Eswatini this week was a surprise. Taiwan’s president only announced that he had arrived in Eswatini after touching down in the country on May 2.
The secrecy may have been a bid to avoid giving China a chance to intervene. According to the Taiwanese government, China exerted economic pressure on Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles to retract overflight permission. Specifically, Taiwanese authorities claim that the Chinese government threatened to cancel debt relief to the three countries if they did not retract overflight permission for Lai’s plane.
The Eswatini visit is Lai’s second overseas trip. Though Taiwanese leaders often make stops in the United States during travel to visit diplomatic allies – in what are termed temporary stopovers rather than formal diplomatic visits, in the absence of formal relations – this was not planned for Lai’s Eswatini trip. Notably, in August 2025 Lai canceled a previously planned tour of Taiwan’s Latin American allies, reportedly after the Trump administration indicated it would not support a stopover visit.
In response to the cancellation of Lai’s original plans to visit Eswatini, the United States and the European Union raised concerns. It is to be seen if China more frequently adopts the tactic of pressuring countries into cancelling overflight permissions when a Taiwanese political leader is set to travel abroad. Reports indicate that both Germany and Czechia had denied transit requests by Lai after his overlight privileges were blocked by Madagascar, Mauritius, and the Seychelles.
After Lai was forced to scrap his original travel plans, Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung was sent to Eswatini, while Lai spoke at King Mswati III’s birthday celebration through a pre-recorded message. In retrospect, it may not have been that Lin traveled to Eswatini in Lai’s stead, but in order to prepare for his arrival. Similarly, Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla was dispatched to Taiwan after the cancellation of Lai’s visit.
Lai eventually traveled to Eswatini on board the personal plane of King Mswati III, which traveled to Taiwan for Lai to board. The airplane previously belonged to Taiwan’s China Airlines.
Lai framed his trip to Eswatini as not a diplomatic breakthrough, but instead an assertion of a right that heads of state have – to be able to engage normally in bilateral relations. Lai vowed that Taiwan would not bend in the face of Chinese pressure.
Lai touted relations between Taiwan and Eswatini, reaffirming ties. He made several symbolic gifts to King Mswati III, including gifts of cattle – in line with local custom – as well as various items representing Taiwan, including a model of an Indigenous fishing boat used by the Tao people of Orchid Island, and a tea set with a design featuring Taipei 101, Taiwan’s tallest skyscraper.
While in Eswatini, Lai visited sites of Taiwanese-funded infrastructure projects. This included the site of Taiwan Industrial Innovation Park, which is currently built, as well as the Strategic Oil Reserve project, intended to ensure that Eswatini has a 60-day supply of oil. Lai also signed an agreement with King Mswati........