China Obstructs President's Overseas Trip; Taiwan Affairs Office Claims One-China Principle is Basic Consensus
China obstructed Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini by pressuring third countries. The Taiwan Affairs Office defended the move citing the One-China principle, while Taiwan's MAC condemned the economic coercion.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 12:38
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 13:01 (23 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 08:04 (19h 2m after Collected)
(Central News Agency reporter Lu Chia-jung, Beijing, 22nd) The Chinese Communist Party obstructed President Lai's visit to the diplomatic ally Eswatini. China's Taiwan Affairs Office stated today that it appreciates the stance and practices of relevant countries adhering to the One-China principle, asserting that the One-China principle is a basic norm in international relations and a universal consensus of the international community.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference today. Regarding the Chinese authorities pressuring relevant countries to temporarily cancel flight clearances, thereby obstructing President Lai's visit to Eswatini, spokesperson Zhang Han repeatedly emphasized the One-China principle in her responses. Zhang Han also "corrected" Taiwanese media's use of the term "President" three times, claiming that "Taiwan is a part of China, there is no such thing as a president."
Taiwanese media asked, "After all, Lai Ching-te is the current President of the Republic of China, and most people in Taiwan identify with the Republic of China. By limiting the Republic of China's survival space internationally, is the mainland side worried that this will actually push the Taiwanese people further away in the opposite direction?"
Zhang Han responded that the One-China principle is a universally recognized basic norm in international relations. She stated that the mainland has consistently handled issues regarding the "Taiwan region's" external exchanges based on the One-China principle and firmly opposes any actions attempting to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" internationally.
She claimed that Lai Ching-te uses foreign visits to spread "Taiwan independence fallacies," "inciting anti-China sentiments, colluding with external forces, provoking for independence, raising confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, and destroying the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait while damaging the interests of the people on the island (Taiwan), which will inevitably meet with opposition and failure."
She said that on the basis of the One-China principle and through cross-strait consultations, the issue of external exchanges of the "Taiwan region" can absolutely be properly resolved. She added that compatriots on both sides are one family, and as long as they talk things out and consult amicably, there are no contradictions or differences that cannot be resolved.
Taiwanese media asked again, noting that Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an stated on the 21st that President Lai suspended his trip because the mainland applied economic coercion to three African countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Zhang Han said that the DPP government insists on a pro-independence stance, playing tricks to achieve breakthroughs, and upon failing, fabricating the "fallacy" of economic coercion, which is entirely self-deceiving and spreading rumors to smear others.
Regarding the Mainland Affairs Council's severe condemnation of the CCP, Zhang Han responded that regardless of how the DPP government colludes with external forces to pursue diplomatic breakthroughs in any form to serve its goal of independence, it is a waste of effort. It cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China, nor can it shake the universal consensus and basic structure of the international community adhering to the One-China principle.
The Mainland Affairs Council expressed severe condemnation of the CCP on the 21st, emphasizing that the Republic of China is a sovereign state. Over the years, the president has visited Eswatini multiple times. Maintaining diplomatic ties is Taiwan's legitimate right, and the CCP has no right to comment, let alone any standing to interfere. (Editor: Chu Chien-ling) 1150422
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China's Taiwan Affairs Office held a regular press conference today. Regarding the Chinese authorities pressuring relevant countries to temporarily cancel flight clearances, thereby obstructing President Lai's visit to Eswatini, spokesperson Zhang Han repeatedly emphasized the One-China principle in her responses. Zhang Han also "corrected" Taiwanese media's use of the term "President" three times, claiming that "Taiwan is a part of China, there is no such thing as a president."
Taiwanese media asked, "After all, Lai Ching-te is the current President of the Republic of China, and most people in Taiwan identify with the Republic of China. By limiting the Republic of China's survival space internationally, is the mainland side worried that this will actually push the Taiwanese people further away in the opposite direction?"
Zhang Han responded that the One-China principle is a universally recognized basic norm in international relations. She stated that the mainland has consistently handled issues regarding the "Taiwan region's" external exchanges based on the One-China principle and firmly opposes any actions attempting to create "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan" internationally.
She claimed that Lai Ching-te uses foreign visits to spread "Taiwan independence fallacies," "inciting anti-China sentiments, colluding with external forces, provoking for independence, raising confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, and destroying the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait while damaging the interests of the people on the island (Taiwan), which will inevitably meet with opposition and failure."
She said that on the basis of the One-China principle and through cross-strait consultations, the issue of external exchanges of the "Taiwan region" can absolutely be properly resolved. She added that compatriots on both sides are one family, and as long as they talk things out and consult amicably, there are no contradictions or differences that cannot be resolved.
Taiwanese media asked again, noting that Secretary-General to the President Pan Men-an stated on the 21st that President Lai suspended his trip because the mainland applied economic coercion to three African countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. Zhang Han said that the DPP government insists on a pro-independence stance, playing tricks to achieve breakthroughs, and upon failing, fabricating the "fallacy" of economic coercion, which is entirely self-deceiving and spreading rumors to smear others.
Regarding the Mainland Affairs Council's severe condemnation of the CCP, Zhang Han responded that regardless of how the DPP government colludes with external forces to pursue diplomatic breakthroughs in any form to serve its goal of independence, it is a waste of effort. It cannot change the fact that Taiwan is a part of China, nor can it shake the universal consensus and basic structure of the international community adhering to the One-China principle.
The Mainland Affairs Council expressed severe condemnation of the CCP on the 21st, emphasizing that the Republic of China is a sovereign state. Over the years, the president has visited Eswatini multiple times. Maintaining diplomatic ties is Taiwan's legitimate right, and the CCP has no right to comment, let alone any standing to interfere. (Editor: Chu Chien-ling) 1150422
Choose to stand with the facts. Every one of your sponsorships is a force protecting press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency "First Hand News" APP to grasp the latest news instantly.
The text, images, and audio/video on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and utilized without authorization.