Taiwan President Lai Ching-te returned home on Tuesday after a surprise trip to Eswatini, saying that Taiwan’s people have a right to go out into the world and will not back down.
China maintains that Taiwan is part of its territory and opposes the self-governed island’s participation in international organisations and its exchanges with other countries.
Lai was originally scheduled to visit the southern Africa country from April 22 to 26, but he had to cancel the trip after various African countries revoked their overflight permissions.
China subsequently expressed its “high appreciation” to African countries that had revoked overflight permits to the Taiwanese leader.
No retreat
“We will not retreat in the face of suppression,” Lai told reporters at Taiwan’s main international airport in Taoyuan, outside of Taipei.
President Lai Ching-te on Saturday arrived in Eswatini, Taipei’s only diplomatic ally in Africa, after an earlier trip was cancelled as several countries revoked overflight permits.
Lai said his initial visit had been “suspended due to unexpected external forces”.
“I hope this trip will contribute to even deeper friendship between Taiwan and Eswatini, thanks to closer economic, agricultural, cultural and educational links, as well as promote Taiwan’s international cooperation,” he added.
