Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te will embark on his first overseas trip in over a year, leading a delegation from April 22 to 27 to visit Eswatini, Taiwan’s only diplomatic ally in Africa.
The landlocked country of Eswatini (referred to as Swaziland in Taiwan) is Taiwan’s last diplomatic partner in Africa and one of only 12 countries in the world that still recognize Taiwan’s sovereignty.
This year marks the 58th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Eswatini, which also coincides with a series of celebratory events in Eswatini in late April for King Mswati III’s 40th anniversary on the throne and his 58th birthday.
The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the flight will not pass over Middle Eastern airspace and will fly directly to Eswatini. This trip is a direct flight, with no stopovers, and follows the principles of comfort, safety, dignity, and convenience.