President Lai's visit to African allies postponed, US lawmakers criticize weaponization of flight safety as reckless and dangerous
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini was postponed after three African island nations revoked flight permits for his special plane due to Chinese pressure. Several US lawmakers condemned this as the "weaponization of flight safety," criticizing China's bullying and supporting Taiwan's right to international participation.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 08:50
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 09:01 (11 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 10:11 (1h 9m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Liao Han-yuan, New York, April 21) President Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini was postponed because three African island nations canceled flight permits for his special plane. Several US congressmen today voiced their support on social media, condemning the CCP's renewed bullying of US allies and supporting Taiwan's right to international participation. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart stated that the three involved countries weaponized flight safety, which is both reckless and dangerous.
President Lai was originally scheduled to fly directly to visit African ally Eswatini on the 22nd, but the trip was postponed because the island nations of Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar unexpectedly canceled flight permits for his special plane.
The Republican caucus of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee responded on social media platform X: "The CCP is once again bullying our close ally Taiwan. We stand with Taiwan against this blatant coercion."
The House Select Committee on the CCP posted: "China is coercing other countries to deny overflight permits. We condemn China's tactics to obstruct Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's visit. This is not diplomacy; it is economic coercion intended to isolate a democratic partner of the United States. The United States stands with Taiwan and supports Taiwan's right to freely participate in the international community."
Republican Senator John Curtis wrote on X that China's tactics of pressuring these countries to isolate Taiwan are a clear reminder that authoritarian governments not only restrict internal freedoms but also extend their control abroad. In an international order controlled by China, the actions, speech, and fundamental freedoms of opponents will all be restricted.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz posted that Mauritius had previously tried to drive the UK out of the Chagos Islands for Chinese interests, and now it wants to interfere with Taiwan's flights to Africa. This country disregards US interests and has decided to become an ally of the CCP; Mauritius claims this is a decision about national sovereignty, then the US's national sovereignty decision is to counter these actions and hold Mauritian officials accountable.
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, co-chair of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus, wrote that Beijing is once again provoking Taiwan, this time by pressuring other countries to obstruct air routes. Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar succumbing to Beijing's pressure is not only shameful, but weaponizing flight safety is both reckless and dangerous.
Republican Representative Pat Harrigan wrote that China threatened three African countries with debt, and these countries immediately blocked the Taiwanese president from entering their airspace. This is perfect economic warfare, without firing a single bullet, because Beijing holds more than half of the debt of African continent countries. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150422
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(Central News Agency reporter Liao Han-yuan, New York, April 21) President Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini was postponed because three African island nations canceled flight permits for his special plane. Several US congressmen today voiced their support on social media, condemning the CCP's renewed bullying of US allies and supporting Taiwan's right to international participation. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart stated that the three involved countries weaponized flight safety, which is both reckless and dangerous.
President Lai was originally scheduled to fly directly to visit African ally Eswatini on the 22nd, but the trip was postponed because the island nations of Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar unexpectedly canceled flight permits for his special plane.
The Republican caucus of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee responded on social media platform X: "The CCP is once again bullying our close ally Taiwan. We stand with Taiwan against this blatant coercion."
The House Select Committee on the CCP posted: "China is coercing other countries to deny overflight permits. We condemn China's tactics to obstruct Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's visit. This is not diplomacy; it is economic coercion intended to isolate a democratic partner of the United States. The United States stands with Taiwan and supports Taiwan's right to freely participate in the international community."
Republican Senator John Curtis wrote on X that China's tactics of pressuring these countries to isolate Taiwan are a clear reminder that authoritarian governments not only restrict internal freedoms but also extend their control abroad. In an international order controlled by China, the actions, speech, and fundamental freedoms of opponents will all be restricted.
Republican Senator Ted Cruz posted that Mauritius had previously tried to drive the UK out of the Chagos Islands for Chinese interests, and now it wants to interfere with Taiwan's flights to Africa. This country disregards US interests and has decided to become an ally of the CCP; Mauritius claims this is a decision about national sovereignty, then the US's national sovereignty decision is to counter these actions and hold Mauritian officials accountable.
Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, co-chair of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus, wrote that Beijing is once again provoking Taiwan, this time by pressuring other countries to obstruct air routes. Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar succumbing to Beijing's pressure is not only shameful, but weaponizing flight safety is both reckless and dangerous.
Republican Representative Pat Harrigan wrote that China threatened three African countries with debt, and these countries immediately blocked the Taiwanese president from entering their airspace. This is perfect economic warfare, without firing a single bullet, because Beijing holds more than half of the debt of African continent countries. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150422
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.