China praises blocking of Taiwan President’s Africa trip, Taipei defiant

China heaped praise on Wednesday (April 22, 2026) on ‌three African countries that refused to let Taiwan President Lai Ching-te’s aircraft fly over ​their territories, forcing him to cancel a trip to Eswatini, while Mr. Lai vowed he ⁠would not be cowed by Beijing’s pressure.

It is the first instance of a Taiwan President having to cancel an entire foreign trip due to denial of airspace access, representing a new Chinese strategy as its steps up ‌efforts to stifle the island’s efforts to engage internationally.

Mr. Lai had been due to leave for the small southern African kingdom, one of just 12 countries with diplomatic ties ‌to Chinese-claimed Taiwan, but the previous night Taiwan said his visit had to be delayed. Taiwan said ‌Seychelles, ⁠Mauritius, and Madagascar had revoked permission for Mr. Lai’s aircraft to fly over their territories.