China said on Wednesday it had “high appreciation” for African countries after several revoked overflight permits, curtailing a planned trip by Taiwan’s leader to Eswatini, the island’s only diplomatic ally on the continent.
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.
Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te was due to visit Eswatini from Wednesday for the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession and his 58th birthday.
But some countries — including Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar — unexpectedly revoked Lai’s overflight permits after “intense pressure” and economic coercion from China, a Taiwanese official said on Tuesday.
“Relevant countries maintained support for the one-China principle, completely in line with… the basic norms of international relations, China expresses high appreciation,” a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement.
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