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Taiwan President Cancels Eswatini Trip After China-Pressured Overflight Revocations

4/24/2026

Summary

Story summary

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te cancelled his visit to Eswatini when Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius withdrew overflight rights, marking the first cancellation of a trip by a Taiwan president.
The U.S. State Department said revocations were made at China’s behest and called them an abuse of aviation system.
Taiwan’s presidential office accused China of coercion while China’s Taiwan Affairs Office denied the claim and praised three nations for following the one-China principle.

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Story summary

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te cancelled his visit to Eswatini when Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius withdrew overflight rights, marking the first cancellation of a trip by a Taiwan president.
The U.S. State Department said revocations were made at China’s behest and called them an abuse of aviation system.
Taiwan’s presidential office accused China of coercion while China’s Taiwan Affairs Office denied the claim and praised three nations for following the one-China principle.