Lai Says China Blocked Eswatini Trip, Citing 1 Ally Case as Authoritarian Proof
Updated
Updated · 台北時報 · May 13
Lai Says China Blocked Eswatini Trip, Citing 1 Ally Case as Authoritarian Proof
1 articles · Updated · 台北時報 · May 13
At the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, President William Lai said he had to postpone a planned state visit to Eswatini last month after China blocked normal flight routes.
Lai cast the disruption as proof that authoritarian regimes are consolidating, saying Beijing used political coercion that endangered aviation order and showed democracies cannot stand aside.
He said autocracies in Europe, the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific are increasingly using military intimidation, economic coercion, cyberattacks and gray-zone tactics to pressure rivals.
Taiwan, he said, would keep engaging internationally despite isolation efforts, offering trusted technology supply chains and frontline experience confronting authoritarian pressure.
Lai also thanked partners including the US, Japan, the Philippines and Australia for backing Taiwan's defense and regional stability at the annual summit founded in 2018.
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Taiwan Under Siege: The 2026 Airspace Blockade, Eswatini’s Defiance, and the Future of Democratic Alliances
Overview
In April-May 2026, President Lai Ching-te’s planned visit to Eswatini triggered an unprecedented airspace blockade by Beijing, reflecting deep distrust of Lai and his pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party. The blockade caused flight cancellations and was condemned by the US as economic pressure to isolate a democratic partner. China’s actions aimed to undermine Lai’s credibility and prevent his diplomatic activities, continuing its strategy of isolating Taiwan. Despite these efforts, President Lai remained resolute, highlighting Taiwan’s determination to maintain its international presence and assert its right to engage with the world.