In a blatant display of international bullying, the Chinese Communist Party has successfully pressured Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar into revoking overflight permits for Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te’s aircraft. The move forced the president to cancel a planned visit to Eswatini, one of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies.
Taiwanese officials confirmed that the permits were pulled without notice, citing 'intense pressure' and economic coercion from Beijing.
While the Chinese government predictably denied the coercion, they openly praised the three nations for upholding the so-called 'one-China principle.' Beijing continues to view the self-governed, democratic island as a breakaway province and has labeled President Lai a 'troublemaker' for his refusal to submit to their authority.
President Lai rightly condemned the incident, noting that it exposes the inherent risks authoritarian regimes pose to the global order. Despite the attempt to isolate Taiwan, the government in Taipei has vowed that these threats will not shake their resolve to engage with the international community.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from American lawmakers, including Senator Ted Cruz, who slammed Mauritius for aligning itself with the Chinese Communist Party.
Meanwhile, Taiwan will send a special envoy to Eswatini to mark the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession, ensuring that despite Beijing’s interference, the diplomatic relationship remains intact.
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