Taiwan president arrives in Eswatini after blaming China for cancellation of prior trip

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te reached Eswatini on Saturday, two weeks after ‌he was forced to postpone a trip to a diplomatic ally because Indian Ocean states had blocked his flight, which Taiwan's government blamed on Beijing's pressure, Reuters reported.

Eswatini in southern Africa is one of just 12 small states, mostly in Latin America, the ​Caribbean and the Pacific, that have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Maintaining ties with them is a ​priority for the government of the democratically ruled island, which China views as part ⁠of its own territory.

Last month, Lai postponed a visit to attend the 40th anniversary of King ​Mswati III's accession , with Taiwan saying the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar had unilaterally revoked flight permits for Lai's aircraft to cross airspace they ​manage because of Chinese pressure.

That was the first time a Taiwan president had cancelled an entire foreign trip due to denial of airspace access, representing what appeared to be a new Chinese strategy to curb the island's international engagement.