Taiwan President Cancels Africa Trip After China Pressure Blocks Airspace

56 articles · Updated · Reuters · Apr 21

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te cancelled a planned visit to Eswatini after three African nations revoked his flight overflight permissions.
Taipei accused China of pressuring Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to withdraw flight permits, citing economic coercion and diplomatic influence.
The incident underlines China's growing ability to restrict Taiwan's international engagement, leaving Eswatini as Taiwan's only African diplomatic ally.

With Africa's airspace closed, is Taiwan's global diplomatic outreach effectively grounded?

Does denying a presidential flight set a dangerous new precedent for global travel?

Will Europe's tech partnerships be enough to counter Taiwan's diplomatic isolation?

How will Eswatini, Taiwan's last African ally, withstand Beijing's growing pressure?

When small nations are forced to choose between Beijing and Taipei, what is the true cost of that choice?

Can Taiwan's chip diplomacy win friends faster than China's checkbook diplomacy?