(Eswatini, 3rd) Taiwanese leader Lai Ching-te arrived in African diplomatic ally Eswatini (referred to as Swaziland by Taiwan) for a visit on Saturday (May 2). Taiwan's politically pro-Green media cited an anonymous Taiwanese national security official who said that the trip was restarted for three main reasons, including Taiwan's responsibility to work together with all democratic allies to ensure international norms and order, not allowing any forces to undermine them.
Lai Ching-te posted on Facebook Saturday, stating that he had arrived in Eswatini for his visit. In his post he wrote: "The originally planned visit on April 22 was postponed due to unforeseen external factors. After meticulous arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams over the past few days, we have successfully arrived today."
Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini last week to attend a celebration, but Taiwan’s Presidential Office announced on the eve of his trip that Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, under pressure from Beijing, canceled the flight permits for Lai Ching-te’s special aircraft. After a safety assessment, the visit was temporarily postponed, with a special envoy sent instead.
SET News quoted a Taiwanese national security official as saying that the restart of this trip was based on three main reasons: first, going out into the world is the inalienable natural right of the Taiwanese people and a basic right for the "Republic of China" as a member of the international community; second, the warm invitation and full support of the King and government of Eswatini; third, as a member of the international community, Taiwan has the responsibility to work with all democratic allies towards ensuring international norms and order, not allowing any forces to arbitrarily destroy them.
As for the planning of this visit, the Taiwanese national security official said that based on upholding "national" dignity, international norms, and flight safety principles, the goal is to achieve diplomatic objectives and ensure the comprehensive safety of the head of state and delegation. Therefore, the program for the visit adopts the public announcement model upon arrival, which is common in high-level diplomacy internationally, to minimize the risks of uncertainty that may come from external interference.
The Taiwanese national security official also said that in terms of relevant security matters and deployment, coordinated efforts have involved several like-minded partners, including Eswatini, but out of necessity and security considerations, specifics will not be disclosed publicly.
On Saturday night, a spokesperson for the Mainland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded in a Q&A with reporters, saying that shortly after an earthquake occurred in Yilan, Lai Ching-te ignored the livelihood of the island and secretly snuck out of Taiwan on a foreign plane, squandering public funds and staging a "smuggling-style farce," making himself an international laughingstock and lengthening the list of "Taiwan independence" misdeeds.
The spokesperson also said: “We advise Eswatini and other individual countries to see the tide of history clearly, go with the trend of the times, and not act as pawns for a few 'Taiwan independence' separatists.”
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, criticized Lai Ching-te for “sneaking out to Eswatini in a sneaky, underhanded way; the so-called 'diplomatic achievements' he has so painstakingly engineered are just tricks to fool people, making him a global laughingstock.”
Chen Binhua further said that adhering to the one-China principle is the people's aspiration, the general trend, and the righteousness of the international community, and "Lai Ching-te's disgraceful conduct is like that of a rat crossing the street, and will be ridiculed by the international community."
In response, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said Saturday night that the "President of the Republic of China" does not need the consent of the People's Republic of China to go anywhere. "The Taiwan Affairs Office is nothing but a shrew scolding in the streets -- how boring."
Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini last week to attend a celebration, but Taiwan’s Presidential Office announced on the eve of his trip that Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, under pressure from Beijing, canceled the flight permits for Lai Ching-te’s special aircraft. After a safety assessment, the visit was temporarily postponed, with a special envoy sent instead.
SET News quoted a Taiwanese national security official as saying that the restart of this trip was based on three main reasons: first, going out into the world is the inalienable natural right of the Taiwanese people and a basic right for the "Republic of China" as a member of the international community; second, the warm invitation and full support of the King and government of Eswatini; third, as a member of the international community, Taiwan has the responsibility to work with all democratic allies towards ensuring international norms and order, not allowing any forces to arbitrarily destroy them.
As for the planning of this visit, the Taiwanese national security official said that based on upholding "national" dignity, international norms, and flight safety principles, the goal is to achieve diplomatic objectives and ensure the comprehensive safety of the head of state and delegation. Therefore, the program for the visit adopts the public announcement model upon arrival, which is common in high-level diplomacy internationally, to minimize the risks of uncertainty that may come from external interference.
The Taiwanese national security official also said that in terms of relevant security matters and deployment, coordinated efforts have involved several like-minded partners, including Eswatini, but out of necessity and security considerations, specifics will not be disclosed publicly.
On Saturday night, a spokesperson for the Mainland's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded in a Q&A with reporters, saying that shortly after an earthquake occurred in Yilan, Lai Ching-te ignored the livelihood of the island and secretly snuck out of Taiwan on a foreign plane, squandering public funds and staging a "smuggling-style farce," making himself an international laughingstock and lengthening the list of "Taiwan independence" misdeeds.
The spokesperson also said: “We advise Eswatini and other individual countries to see the tide of history clearly, go with the trend of the times, and not act as pawns for a few 'Taiwan independence' separatists.”
Chen Binhua, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, criticized Lai Ching-te for “sneaking out to Eswatini in a sneaky, underhanded way; the so-called 'diplomatic achievements' he has so painstakingly engineered are just tricks to fool people, making him a global laughingstock.”
Chen Binhua further said that adhering to the one-China principle is the people's aspiration, the general trend, and the righteousness of the international community, and "Lai Ching-te's disgraceful conduct is like that of a rat crossing the street, and will be ridiculed by the international community."
In response, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council said Saturday night that the "President of the Republic of China" does not need the consent of the People's Republic of China to go anywhere. "The Taiwan Affairs Office is nothing but a shrew scolding in the streets -- how boring."