Legislative Yuan Passes Resolution Condemning Chinese Pressure After President Lai's Eswatini Visit Blocked
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan on May 5 unanimously passed a resolution proposed by the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus, condemning the Chinese government for using coercive measures that led Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to cancel flight permits for the presidential plane. This interference forced President Lai Ching-te to postpone his originally scheduled April 22 visit to Taiwan's ally, Eswatini. President Lai later announced his arrival in Eswatini via Facebook on May 2 and returned to Taiwan on May 5.
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- 📰 Published: June 5, 2026 at 13:57
- 🔍 Collected: June 5, 2026 at 14:09 (12 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: June 6, 2026 at 15:11 (25h 2m after Collected)
(Central News Agency, Taipei, May 5, Reporter Wang Yang-yu) President Lai Ching-te postponed a visit to Taiwan's African ally, Eswatini, in April due to Chinese interference. In response, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) caucus in the Legislative Yuan proposed a resolution condemning the Chinese government's actions. The Legislative Yuan session today processed the case, and it was passed without objection from any party.
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on April 22. However, three African nations—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—unexpectedly and without cause canceled the flight permits for the presidential plane, leading to the postponement of the trip. The Presidential Office quickly re-initiated the visit schedule. On the evening of May 2, President Lai suddenly announced via a Facebook post, "I have just arrived in our ally, Eswatini," and returned to Taiwan on May 5.
Regarding the obstruction of President Lai's visit, during the Legislative Yuan session on April 24, the DPP caucus proposed a resolution urging the chamber to adopt a decision calling on all parties to jointly condemn Chinese suppression. That day, all parties agreed without objection to send the case directly to a second reading for negotiation, with the DPP caucus responsible for convening the talks.
The DPP caucus's proposal stated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent democratic nation. It accused the Chinese government of recently using diplomatic coercion and economic pressure to force Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mauritius to revoke flight permits for the Taiwanese presidential plane without warning. This action, the proposal argued, seriously threatens flight safety, violates international norms and practices, undermines the principles of national equality and non-interference enshrined in international law, openly challenges the international order, and suppresses the right of the Republic of China to engage with the world.
The proposal requested the chamber to adopt a resolution including: "The Legislative Yuan, regardless of party affiliation, firmly supports our President's state visits abroad," and insists on the right of the Taiwanese people to engage and cooperate with countries around the world. Furthermore, it strongly condemned the Chinese government's coercive actions to force a third country to revoke flight permits for the Taiwanese presidential plane, calling it a violation of the UN Charter, the spirit of the International Civil Aviation Convention, and diplomatic norms, constituting open interference in the sovereignty of a third country.
After the negotiation cooling-off period, the Legislative Yuan session processed the case today. The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucus proposed passing the case as originally drafted. No attending legislator raised any objections, so the resolution was passed as proposed by the DPP caucus. (Editor: Su Zhi-zong) 1150605
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on April 22. However, three African nations—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—unexpectedly and without cause canceled the flight permits for the presidential plane, leading to the postponement of the trip. The Presidential Office quickly re-initiated the visit schedule. On the evening of May 2, President Lai suddenly announced via a Facebook post, "I have just arrived in our ally, Eswatini," and returned to Taiwan on May 5.
Regarding the obstruction of President Lai's visit, during the Legislative Yuan session on April 24, the DPP caucus proposed a resolution urging the chamber to adopt a decision calling on all parties to jointly condemn Chinese suppression. That day, all parties agreed without objection to send the case directly to a second reading for negotiation, with the DPP caucus responsible for convening the talks.
The DPP caucus's proposal stated that the Republic of China (Taiwan) is a sovereign and independent democratic nation. It accused the Chinese government of recently using diplomatic coercion and economic pressure to force Seychelles, Madagascar, and Mauritius to revoke flight permits for the Taiwanese presidential plane without warning. This action, the proposal argued, seriously threatens flight safety, violates international norms and practices, undermines the principles of national equality and non-interference enshrined in international law, openly challenges the international order, and suppresses the right of the Republic of China to engage with the world.
The proposal requested the chamber to adopt a resolution including: "The Legislative Yuan, regardless of party affiliation, firmly supports our President's state visits abroad," and insists on the right of the Taiwanese people to engage and cooperate with countries around the world. Furthermore, it strongly condemned the Chinese government's coercive actions to force a third country to revoke flight permits for the Taiwanese presidential plane, calling it a violation of the UN Charter, the spirit of the International Civil Aviation Convention, and diplomatic norms, constituting open interference in the sovereignty of a third country.
After the negotiation cooling-off period, the Legislative Yuan session processed the case today. The Taiwan People's Party (TPP) caucus proposed passing the case as originally drafted. No attending legislator raised any objections, so the resolution was passed as proposed by the DPP caucus. (Editor: Su Zhi-zong) 1150605