China Pressures to Block President's Visit; Scholars: Highlights 'One China', Differential Treatment of Pan-Blue and Pan-Green
President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Eswatini was abruptly suspended after African nations revoked flight permits due to Chinese pressure. Scholars suggest China aims to assert the 'One China' principle and divide Taiwan's political factions.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 20:17
- 🔍 Collected: April 22, 2026 at 20:32 (14 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 05:05 (8h 33m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Liao Wen-chi, Taipei, 22nd) The Chinese Communist Party recently announced 10 Taiwan-related policies and immediately suppressed President Lai Ching-te's overseas visit. Taiwanese scholars analyze that China's suppression aims to highlight "One China," while its two-handed strategy seeks to treat the Kuomintang (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) differently, regardless of the government's attitude toward the 10 policies.
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini today, but the itinerary was suspended after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar suddenly canceled the special flight permits. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an pointed out that the actual reason was intense pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion, to force third countries to determine their sovereign actions.
Regarding China's suppression of President Lai's visit right after announcing 10 Taiwan-related policies, Hung Yao-nan, deputy director of the Center for Mainland China Studies at Tamkang University, told CNA that this is China's simultaneous use of hard and soft tactics. In Beijing's eyes, there is no peace without unification, and the title "President of the Republic of China" does not exist, as stated at the Taiwan Affairs Office press conference today. The purpose of the suppression is to highlight one China, referring to the People's Republic of China.
Wang Hung-ren, a professor at the Department of Political Science at National Cheng Kung University, told CNA that China's suppression has nothing to do with the government's attitude toward the 10 Taiwan-related policies. The DPP has not completely rejected the 10 policies but only emphasized the issue of parity. China's suppression is a structural factor; "they just keep suppressing you from beginning to end."
Wang Hung-ren stated that the Chinese side originally wanted to treat the KMT and the DPP differently. Toward the KMT, China hopes to use economic incentives to draw KMT supporters or swing voters to its path. However, "it's just unacceptable for the DPP's president to go out."
He further added that China hopes to punish DPP supporters and benefit KMT supporters, but in reality, such a distinction cannot be made. For the Taiwanese people, whether it is the KMT or the DPP, President Lai represents the president of Taiwan. Voters will still feel China's suppression, "so I think the Chinese side has miscalculated in this regard."
Hung Yao-nan pointed out that every time the president transits or visits abroad, they will inevitably face Chinese suppression or military exercises. This time, China's political handling "is to give you no time to respond." By abruptly canceling aviation rights before the visit, Taiwan had no time to take countermeasures.
Wang Hung-ren emphasized that the sudden revocation of flight permits by three East African countries violates the principle of good faith under the "Chicago Convention" and will cause other countries to have major concerns about aviation safety.
He said that no matter where the president goes or what kind of stance is expressed regarding cross-strait relations in the future, China will adopt a high-pressure attitude and obstruct as much as possible. To break through the obstruction, technical adjustments can be made, such as not letting the other side know the information too early. "Of course, we still have to go out openly and honorably," but some arrangements can be made regarding the announcement of information.
Wang Hung-ren noted that the countries to be visited would also be affected. The island countries in East Africa along the route are highly economically dependent on China due to the "Belt and Road Initiative." In the future, if transiting the US to Central and South America, or transiting European countries to the Vatican, these countries will be more able to withstand China's economic coercion.
Regarding the upcoming Trump-Xi summit and what impact China's suppression of Taiwan might have, Wang Hung-ren said, "I think it will indeed be a variable." The Chinese side's move seems to have completely disregarded the Taiwan factor, believing the Trump-Xi summit is confirmed to take place and assessing no impact. "I think this might also be a miscalculation."
He said China's move might be seen by the US as a means of coercing other members of the international community. If US congressional members continue to pressure the administration, it is not ruled out that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US President Trump might lean toward Taiwan during the US-China leaders' meeting. "This would actually be more disadvantageous to China" and could also to some extent influence Trump to make a clearer stance on cross-strait relations.
Hung Yao-nan believes that China's diplomatic suppression of Taiwan is the norm and has nothing to do with the Trump-Xi summit. China will not change its attitude toward Taiwan because of the summit. Since the Trump-Xi summit is short, it will focus on US-China conflicts and bilateral issues. "The Taiwan issue should not be discussed at this Trump-Xi summit." (Editor: Yang Sheng-ru) 1150422
(CNA Reporter Liao Wen-chi, Taipei, 22nd) The Chinese Communist Party recently announced 10 Taiwan-related policies and immediately suppressed President Lai Ching-te's overseas visit. Taiwanese scholars analyze that China's suppression aims to highlight "One China," while its two-handed strategy seeks to treat the Kuomintang (KMT) and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) differently, regardless of the government's attitude toward the 10 policies.
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini today, but the itinerary was suspended after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar suddenly canceled the special flight permits. Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an pointed out that the actual reason was intense pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion, to force third countries to determine their sovereign actions.
Regarding China's suppression of President Lai's visit right after announcing 10 Taiwan-related policies, Hung Yao-nan, deputy director of the Center for Mainland China Studies at Tamkang University, told CNA that this is China's simultaneous use of hard and soft tactics. In Beijing's eyes, there is no peace without unification, and the title "President of the Republic of China" does not exist, as stated at the Taiwan Affairs Office press conference today. The purpose of the suppression is to highlight one China, referring to the People's Republic of China.
Wang Hung-ren, a professor at the Department of Political Science at National Cheng Kung University, told CNA that China's suppression has nothing to do with the government's attitude toward the 10 Taiwan-related policies. The DPP has not completely rejected the 10 policies but only emphasized the issue of parity. China's suppression is a structural factor; "they just keep suppressing you from beginning to end."
Wang Hung-ren stated that the Chinese side originally wanted to treat the KMT and the DPP differently. Toward the KMT, China hopes to use economic incentives to draw KMT supporters or swing voters to its path. However, "it's just unacceptable for the DPP's president to go out."
He further added that China hopes to punish DPP supporters and benefit KMT supporters, but in reality, such a distinction cannot be made. For the Taiwanese people, whether it is the KMT or the DPP, President Lai represents the president of Taiwan. Voters will still feel China's suppression, "so I think the Chinese side has miscalculated in this regard."
Hung Yao-nan pointed out that every time the president transits or visits abroad, they will inevitably face Chinese suppression or military exercises. This time, China's political handling "is to give you no time to respond." By abruptly canceling aviation rights before the visit, Taiwan had no time to take countermeasures.
Wang Hung-ren emphasized that the sudden revocation of flight permits by three East African countries violates the principle of good faith under the "Chicago Convention" and will cause other countries to have major concerns about aviation safety.
He said that no matter where the president goes or what kind of stance is expressed regarding cross-strait relations in the future, China will adopt a high-pressure attitude and obstruct as much as possible. To break through the obstruction, technical adjustments can be made, such as not letting the other side know the information too early. "Of course, we still have to go out openly and honorably," but some arrangements can be made regarding the announcement of information.
Wang Hung-ren noted that the countries to be visited would also be affected. The island countries in East Africa along the route are highly economically dependent on China due to the "Belt and Road Initiative." In the future, if transiting the US to Central and South America, or transiting European countries to the Vatican, these countries will be more able to withstand China's economic coercion.
Regarding the upcoming Trump-Xi summit and what impact China's suppression of Taiwan might have, Wang Hung-ren said, "I think it will indeed be a variable." The Chinese side's move seems to have completely disregarded the Taiwan factor, believing the Trump-Xi summit is confirmed to take place and assessing no impact. "I think this might also be a miscalculation."
He said China's move might be seen by the US as a means of coercing other members of the international community. If US congressional members continue to pressure the administration, it is not ruled out that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US President Trump might lean toward Taiwan during the US-China leaders' meeting. "This would actually be more disadvantageous to China" and could also to some extent influence Trump to make a clearer stance on cross-strait relations.
Hung Yao-nan believes that China's diplomatic suppression of Taiwan is the norm and has nothing to do with the Trump-Xi summit. China will not change its attitude toward Taiwan because of the summit. Since the Trump-Xi summit is short, it will focus on US-China conflicts and bilateral issues. "The Taiwan issue should not be discussed at this Trump-Xi summit." (Editor: Yang Sheng-ru) 1150422