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Taiwan blames pressure from China for nixed Africa trip

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te canceled his planned trip to Eswatini—Taiwan’s only remaining African diplomatic ally—after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked permission for his plane to use their airspace. Taiwan’s Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Meng-an attributed the decision to intense pressure and economic coercion from China, while Madagascar confirmed it adheres to the one-China principle; Seychelles and Mauritius did not respond to the allegations, and Lai was set to attend the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession.