Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung arrived in Eswatini on April 25, 2026, days after President Lai Ching-te canceled a planned visit when Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked overflight permissions for his chartered aircraft. The last-minute withdrawals, occurring less than 24 hours before departure on April 22, left no time to secure alternative routes to Taiwan’s sole African diplomatic ally.
Taipei accused Beijing of coordinating pressure on the three Indian Ocean states, marking the first time a Taiwanese president scrapped an entire foreign trip due to airspace blocks. Lin labeled the incident China’s “new form of pressure, politicizing and weaponizing the flight information region,” vowing Taipei would not yield to “authoritarian forces.”
China denied involvement, praising the decisions of Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar for upholding the “one China” principle. Eswatini, one of Taiwan’s 12 remaining allies, hosted Lin as President Lai’s envoy, with video footage showing his tarmac arrival.
The episode highlights escalating aviation diplomacy tensions, complicating long-haul operations for Taiwan’s leaders and underscoring Beijing’s leverage over regional airspace approvals.