Story perspectives

Taiwan Cancels Visit After African Overflight Ban, US Accuses China

4/25/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Lai Ching-te cancelled his Eswatini visit after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew overflight permission.
China praised the three African states for the denial, while Taiwanese officials blamed Chinese pressure and coercion, a claim Beijing denied.
Taiwanese officials said the revocations resulted from Chinese pressure and coercion, a claim Beijing rejected.
The U.S. State Department and House Foreign Affairs Committee accused China of intimidation while Taiwan’s defense ministry placed forces on alert as China held drills.

History

Historical Context

During the 1995-96 Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, the PLA fired dozens of missiles and massed about 100,000 troops to pressure Lee Teng-hui’s first presidential election, prompting the United States to send two carrier battle groups. In 2024, Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar revoked overflight rights for Taiwanese planes, echoing Beijing’s historic coercion to limit Taiwan’s diplomatic reach.

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Story summary

President Lai Ching-te cancelled his Eswatini visit after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar withdrew overflight permission.
China praised the three African states for the denial, while Taiwanese officials blamed Chinese pressure and coercion, a claim Beijing denied.
Taiwanese officials said the revocations resulted from Chinese pressure and coercion, a claim Beijing rejected.
The U.S. State Department and House Foreign Affairs Committee accused China of intimidation while Taiwan’s defense ministry placed forces on alert as China held drills.

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