Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te has declared that his island nation has the right to engage with the world and that no country can prevent its international participation, as he began a surprise diplomatic visit to Eswatini. The trip comes amid heightened tensions with China, which condemned Lai in unusually personal terms and accused him of defying Beijing’s authority over Taiwan.
Lai arrived in Eswatini, one of Taiwan’s few remaining diplomatic allies, on Saturday for a visit that both Taipei and Beijing say involved sensitive travel arrangements. The journey included participation in commemorations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s rule. Taiwan’s presidential office stated that Lai emphasized in talks with the monarch that the island’s 23 million people have the right to engage globally and contribute internationally without external obstruction.
China, which claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes any form of official foreign relations between Taipei and other states, reacted strongly to the visit. A spokesperson for Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office described Lai in derogatory terms, accusing him of “skulking” to Eswatini and likening him to a “rat,” remarks that further intensified the already strained rhetoric between the two sides.
Taiwan’s government rejected Beijing’s criticism, arguing that it does not require China’s permission to conduct international visits. Officials in Taipei also accused China of attempting to interfere with Lai’s travel plans, including claims that several countries had been pressured to deny overflight permissions during an earlier planned diplomatic trip. The current visit proceeded under a discreet arrangement, with Lai reportedly traveling on an Eswatini government aircraft.
Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of only a small number of countries that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The visit underscores Taiwan’s ongoing efforts to sustain and strengthen its limited international partnerships despite sustained diplomatic pressure from China, which continues to push for global isolation of the self-governed island.
