Flight Permits Canceled by 3 Countries En Route, President Lai Postpones Eswatini Visit
President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Eswatini was postponed after three countries along the flight path (Seychelles, Mauritius, Madagascar) unexpectedly canceled flight permits for his special plane. The Presidential Office decided to delay the trip, prioritizing the President's safety and the flight safety of the delegation.
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- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 19:21
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 19:31 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 21, 2026 at 21:17 (1h 45m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Taipei, April 21, CNA reporters Lai Yu-chen, Yeh Su-ping) President Lai Ching-te's scheduled visit to the African ally Kingdom of Eswatini from April 22 to 27 has been postponed. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an held an impromptu press conference in the evening, stating that the special plane for the President's visit had its flight permits unexpectedly canceled by three countries along its route: Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Considering the safety of the head of state and the flight safety of the delegation, the decision was made to postpone the itinerary. President Lai will instead appoint a special envoy to attend Eswatini's dual celebration events.
This year marks the 58th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Eswatini. To celebrate King Mswati III's 40th enthronement anniversary and his 58th birthday, Eswatini has a series of celebratory activities from April 24 to 26. President Lai originally planned a direct flight visit to the African ally Kingdom of Eswatini from April 22 to 27, hoping to achieve three goals of shared prosperity: security, economy, and digital.
National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chih-chung, and Presidential Office Spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui also attended the impromptu press conference in the evening to explain the latest developments regarding the President's visit. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150421
(Taipei, April 21, CNA reporters Lai Yu-chen, Yeh Su-ping) President Lai Ching-te's scheduled visit to the African ally Kingdom of Eswatini from April 22 to 27 has been postponed. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an held an impromptu press conference in the evening, stating that the special plane for the President's visit had its flight permits unexpectedly canceled by three countries along its route: Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Considering the safety of the head of state and the flight safety of the delegation, the decision was made to postpone the itinerary. President Lai will instead appoint a special envoy to attend Eswatini's dual celebration events.
This year marks the 58th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Eswatini. To celebrate King Mswati III's 40th enthronement anniversary and his 58th birthday, Eswatini has a series of celebratory activities from April 24 to 26. President Lai originally planned a direct flight visit to the African ally Kingdom of Eswatini from April 22 to 27, hoping to achieve three goals of shared prosperity: security, economy, and digital.
National Security Council Secretary-General Wellington Koo, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Wu Chih-chung, and Presidential Office Spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui also attended the impromptu press conference in the evening to explain the latest developments regarding the President's visit. (Editor: Lin Shu-yuan) 1150421