President Lai Postpones Visit to Eswatini; KMT Says Unrelated to Zheng-Xi Meeting
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini has been postponed due to unexpected flight permit revocations by several countries. The Kuomintang (KMT) stated that this postponement is unrelated to the recent 'Zheng-Xi meeting' and urged mainland China to respect Taiwan's diplomatic space, highlighting ongoing geopolitical tensions.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 21, 2026 at 20:22
- 🔍 Collected: April 21, 2026 at 20:32 (10 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 01:33 (5h 1m after Collected)
Central News Agency (Taipei, April 21, Reporter Liu Kuan-ting) President Lai Ching-te's scheduled visit to Eswatini on April 22 has been postponed. The Presidential Office today held an emergency press conference to announce that the President's visit would be put on hold. Kuomintang (KMT) Culture and Communications Committee Chairwoman Yin Nai-ching stated that she called on mainland China to exercise restraint, reduce suppression, and grant the Republic of China government diplomatic space; she also said that the postponement of the President's visit to Eswatini was unrelated to the "Zheng-Xi meeting."
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on April 22. On the eve of his departure, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an held an emergency press conference at 6 p.m., pointing out that three countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, had unexpectedly and unilaterally revoked the flight permits for the special plane, leading to the postponement of the President's visit.
The KMT issued a press release, with Yin Nai-ching stating deep regret over President Lai's postponement of his visit to Eswatini, the Republic of China's only diplomatic ally in Africa. The KMT called on mainland China to exercise restraint, reduce suppression, and grant the Republic of China government diplomatic space. She noted that during former President Ma Ying-jeou's tenure, the "flexible diplomacy" promoted cross-strait "diplomatic truce," and the number of diplomatic allies was 22 under Ma Ying-jeou, illustrating the critical importance of maintaining communication channels across the Strait.
KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen met with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping on April 10, with the "Zheng-Xi meeting" held in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Yin Nai-ching stated that from former President Tsai Ing-wen to President Lai, 10 diplomatic allies were lost, all before the "Zheng-Xi meeting," and the postponement of President Lai's visit to Eswatini was unrelated to the "Zheng-Xi meeting." (Editors: Yang Kai-hsiang, Su Lung-chi) 1150421
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President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on April 22. On the eve of his departure, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an held an emergency press conference at 6 p.m., pointing out that three countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, had unexpectedly and unilaterally revoked the flight permits for the special plane, leading to the postponement of the President's visit.
The KMT issued a press release, with Yin Nai-ching stating deep regret over President Lai's postponement of his visit to Eswatini, the Republic of China's only diplomatic ally in Africa. The KMT called on mainland China to exercise restraint, reduce suppression, and grant the Republic of China government diplomatic space. She noted that during former President Ma Ying-jeou's tenure, the "flexible diplomacy" promoted cross-strait "diplomatic truce," and the number of diplomatic allies was 22 under Ma Ying-jeou, illustrating the critical importance of maintaining communication channels across the Strait.
KMT Chairperson Cheng Li-wen met with CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping on April 10, with the "Zheng-Xi meeting" held in the East Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Yin Nai-ching stated that from former President Tsai Ing-wen to President Lai, 10 diplomatic allies were lost, all before the "Zheng-Xi meeting," and the postponement of President Lai's visit to Eswatini was unrelated to the "Zheng-Xi meeting." (Editors: Yang Kai-hsiang, Su Lung-chi) 1150421
Choose to stand with the facts; every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
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