AdvertisementEast AsiaTaiwan President Lai Ching-te delivers a speech as he inspects Taiwanese reservists participating in reserve military training in Ilan County, Eastern Taiwan, Dec 2, 2025. (Photo: AP/Chiang Ying-ying)03 May 2026 03:47AM (Updated: 03 May 2026 03:48AM) Bookmark Bookmark WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedInAdd CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results.Read a summary of this article on FAST.Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try.Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FASTFAST 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.Show MoreShow Less"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.China urges US to preserve 'stability' in ties, warns Taiwan is 'risk point'Commentary: Beijing intensifies diplomatic isolation of Taiwan’s president"And no country has the right and no country should ever block Taiwan from contributing more to the world," he added.Earlier 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 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.Source: AFP/fsNewsletterWeek in ReviewSubscribe to our Chief Editor’s Week in ReviewOur chief editor shares analysis and picks of the week's biggest news every Saturday.Sign up for our newslettersGet our pick of top stories and thought-provoking articles in your inboxSubscribe hereGet the CNA appStay updated with notifications for breaking news and our best storiesDownload hereGet WhatsApp alertsJoin our channel for the top reads for the day on your preferred chat appJoin hereAlso worth readingContent is loading...