President Lai completes Africa visit that defied Beijing

TAIPEI (TVBS News) — President Lai Ching-te (賴清德) returned to Taiwan on Tuesday (May 5) after completing a four-day state visit to Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa. In remarks at Taoyuan International Airport, Lai declared that the island "will not back down" despite Chinese efforts to block the trip.

Lai's aircraft, an Airbus A340 belonging to Eswatini's King Mswati III, landed at Taoyuan International Airport at 10:38 a.m. Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla of Eswatini accompanied Lai on the round-trip journey. The trip spanned approximately 25,000 kilometers (15,534 miles) over 84 hours, according to presidential remarks.

The visit was originally scheduled for late April but was postponed after China pressured Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to revoke overflight permits for Taiwan's charter aircraft, according to Taiwan's Presidential Office. Lai circumvented the restrictions by traveling on Eswatini's royal aircraft, which Dladla had flown to Taiwan for an official visit.

"Mutual visits between heads of state are nothing out of the ordinary — just like visiting a friend. It is a basic right of every country," Lai said at the airport. "The fact that this trip was once obstructed has instead allowed the world to see the firm determination and will of the Taiwanese people to engage with the world."

A U.S. State Department spokesperson, responding to questions from Taiwanese media, said such visits are "routine" and "should not be politicized." The spokesperson described Taiwan as "a trusted and capable partner" of the United States and other nations. Taiwan's relationships with countries worldwide "bring significant benefits to the people of those countries, including Eswatini," the spokesperson added.

During the visit, Lai met with King Mswati III and Queen Mother Ntfombi. The president said the trip produced "concrete results" in cooperation on energy security, industrial investment, agriculture, smart healthcare, women's empowerment and cultural and educational exchanges. Specific agreements signed during the visit were not detailed in official statements.

The return flight departed Eswatini's King Mswati III International Airport in Manzini at 6:50 p.m. Taipei time Monday, according to flight tracking data. The aircraft flew southeast over the Indian Ocean, deliberately avoiding Madagascan and Mauritian airspace. It then turned northeast through Indonesian and Philippine airspace to reach Taiwan.

The Airbus A340 used for the trip was originally a China Airlines (中華航空) passenger jet, delivered in 2001 and retired in 2015. Eswatini purchased the aircraft in 2016 for approximately US$12 million (around NT$380 million). China Airlines executives with A340 experience accompanied the delegation, and the airline continues to provide maintenance support for the aircraft.

Taiwan's Air Force dispatched four F-16V fighter jets to escort the presidential aircraft, following standard protocol for presidential travel, according to Taiwan's defense ministry. The jets met the aircraft after it entered Taiwan's Air Defense Identification Zone. Radar and air defense missile units were also placed on heightened alert.

Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, established formal relations with Taiwan on Sept. 6, 1968, the day of its independence from Britain. The 58-year diplomatic partnership has remained intact despite Chinese pressure. King Mswati III has visited Taiwan nearly 20 times, and the Queen Mother has referred to Taiwan as her "second homeland."

Lai's return comes ahead of a scheduled state visit to Taiwan by Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, set for May 7-10. Paraguay is Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in South America. China has not issued an official statement on the completed Eswatini visit. Details on any specific agreements signed during Lai's trip were not immediately available. ◼