President William Lai Ching-tey says he met with King Mswati III and signed trade agreements.
Published on 3 May 2026
Taiwan President William Lai Ching-tey says his government will never give up on engaging with the world as he visits Eswatini despite China’s efforts to block travel.
Lai arrived in Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, on Saturday after “careful arrangements made by our diplomatic and national security teams,” he said in a Facebook post, although it is unclear how he arrived in the kingdom.
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He said he was welcomed with a “military-style welcome ceremony”. The Taiwanese leader said he met King Mswati III and signed trade deals.
The trip was originally scheduled for late April, but Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar canceled flight permits for their charter aircraft without notice.
Taiwan’s presidential office said the cancellation came after heavy pressure from Beijing, including economic pressure, and it called the move “without precedent in the international community.”
Taiwan operates as a self-governing democracy, but China claims it is part of its territory and says it should come under its rule. Beijing has insisted that the country stop talks with the island’s government.
‘Ridiculous stunt’
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman called the trip a “ridiculous stunt” and said Lai used a “foreign plane” to “smuggle” himself out of the island, stressing that Taiwan is part of China.
China has for decades pressured many countries to sever formal ties with Taipei, leaving Taiwan with only 12 diplomatic allies, including Belize, Guatemala, Haiti and the Vatican.
Although the United States does not recognize Taiwan, it has promised to help Taiwan defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.
Eswatini is the only country on the African continent that still recognizes Taiwan.
Lai thanked its king for standing by Taiwan “uninfluenced by various diplomatic and economic pressures” and reiterated that no country has the right to prevent Taiwan from contributing to the world.
