Justin Wong, staff writer
MBABANE, Eswatini — Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini, where he was received by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini, in a trip that was kept under wraps until his arrival. The unannounced visit marks a renewed show of friendship between Taiwan and one of its few remaining diplomatic allies, despite rising pressure from China.
Lai’s trip, originally scheduled for April 22–26 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne, had been postponed after several African nations—Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar—revoked flight permissions for Lai’s plane. Taiwan accused the countries of bowing to Chinese influence in blocking the travel route.
In a statement on social media, Lai reaffirmed Taiwan’s determination to remain globally engaged, saying that the island “will never be deterred by external pressures.” He added that Taiwan’s commitment to international cooperation remains firm, regardless of challenges.
Praised by Lai as a steadfast partner, Eswatini continues to recognize Taiwan diplomatically—making it one of just 12 countries that maintain official relations with Taipei. During his stay, Lai is set to hold bilateral talks with King Mswati III and sign a new customs agreement aimed at deepening economic, agricultural, cultural, and educational cooperation.
Following news of Lai’s visit, China’s foreign ministry derided the trip as an “international laughing stock,” claiming that efforts by Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party to strengthen ties abroad are “futile” and cannot alter Beijing’s stance that Taiwan is part of China. The ministry also urged Eswatini to “see clearly the general trend of history” and avoid supporting what it called separatist forces advocating for Taiwan’s independence.
Despite Beijing’s warnings, Lai framed the visit as a testament to Taiwan’s resilience and its determination to strengthen existing alliances in the face of diplomatic isolation.
