1 jam yang lalu
April 22, 2026 | 04:40 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - China said Wednesday it had "high appreciation" for the African countries that denied overflight rights to the plane of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, forcing him to cancel a trip to Eswatini.
China claims self-governed Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes the island having diplomatic relations with other countries.
Lai was to visit Eswatini, Taiwan's only remaining ally on the African continent, from April 22-26.
But that plan was shelved after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unexpectedly withdrew flight permits "due to strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion," a Taiwanese official said Tuesday.
What did China say about the Taiwan president's trip?
Beijing denied it had applied economic pressure to block Lai's trip, but at the same time said it had "high appreciation" for the three countries' actions.
"Relevant countries maintained support for the one-China principle, completely in line with ... the basic norms of international relations, China expresses high appreciation," China's Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
"No one can stop the historical trend of China's eventual reunification," the statement added, referring to Beijing's claims over Taiwan.
Separately, a spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office told reporters, "A just cause enjoys abundant support, while an unjust cause finds little support," quoting the ancient Chinese philosopher Mencius.
Eswatini 'regrets' canceled trip
Seychelles and Madagascar said they took the decision because they do not recognize Taiwan.
Taiwan's Foreign Ministry on Wednesday described the countries' position as being "in servitude of China."
"The Republic of China is a sovereign state with the right to engage with the world — a right that cannot be denied, and that no country has the standing to obstruct," it added in a statement, referring to Taiwan by its formal name.
Eswatini, a tiny southern African kingdom formerly known as Swaziland, is one of just 12 countries with diplomatic ties to Taiwan.
A spokesperson for the Eswatini government said it "regrets" Lai did not visit, but stressed the setback "does not change the status of our longstanding bilateral relations."
How have others reacted?
The development comes after Taiwan's opposition leader Cheng Li-wun, head of the Kuomintang (KMT), met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.
The opposition party, which often clashes with Lai's government, urged China to show restraint and give Taiwan diplomatic space.
"I think mainland China's pressure is not clever, especially after the Cheng-Xi meeting," senior KMT lawmaker Lai Shyh-bao told reporters in Taipei.
Several lawmakers in the U.S. also voiced concern over the incident.
"This is not diplomacy; it is economic pressure aimed at isolating a democratic partner," the U.S. House Select Committee on China wrote on X.
Read: China Boosts Ties with Taiwan After Opposition Leader Visits
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Chinese Foreign Minister to Visit Three ASEAN Countries This Week
31 menit lalu
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit three Southeast Asian countries from April 22 to 26, 2026.
China Says Indonesia-US Defense Deal Must Not 'Target Third Party'
4 hari lalu
China made the statement following the Major Defense Cooperation Partnership (MDCP) between Indonesia and the United States.
Japan, NATO Deepen Global Security Ties
5 hari lalu
Japan's foreign minister said Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific security are "inseparable."
UK Media Report: Iran Used Chinese Satellite to Target US Bases
5 hari lalu
Iran is reported to be using a Chinese-made spy satellite to target the United States military bases in the Middle East.
Trump Says China Has Agreed Not to Supply Weapons to Iran
6 hari lalu
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that China had agreed not to supply weapons to Iran, citing assurances he said were conveyed by Xi Jinping.
China Sees ASEAN Tropical Fruit Boom with Express Laos Shipment
6 hari lalu
The China-Laos railway serves as a "golden route" for tropical fruit commodities from Southeast Asian countries to enter Beijing.
China Rejects Allegations of Arming Iran
7 hari lalu
China insists that it is not supplying Iran with weapons for war after Trump threatened to impose a 50 percent tariff on Chinese goods.
Spanish PM: Strong Ties with China in Europe's Interest
7 hari lalu
Spain has been one of Europe's loudest voices calling for expanding trade with China and treating it as a strategic ally.
China Says US Blockade in Strait of Hormuz Will Not Solve Crisis
8 hari lalu
China asserts that the US move to block ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz after failed negotiations in Islamabad will not resolve the issues.
China Boosts Ties with Taiwan After Opposition Leader Visits
9 hari lalu
China said it would resume flights between Taiwan and more cities on the mainland, as well as easing bans on Taiwanese food and TV shows.
English (US) · 
Indonesian (ID) ·