China's Foreign Ministry Reiterates One-China Principle, Obstructing President Lai's State Visit
President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Eswatini was postponed after transit countries like Seychelles suddenly canceled flight clearances under pressure from China.
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- 📰 Published: April 22, 2026 at 13:02
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- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 21:24 (7h 52m after Collected)
(Central News Agency Reporter Lu Chia-jung, Beijing, 22nd) The Chinese Communist Party has obstructed President Lai's visit to the diplomatic ally Eswatini. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today through an unnamed higher-level spokesperson that 53 African countries, excluding Eswatini, have established diplomatic relations with China and have repeatedly expressed their firm adherence to the one-China principle.
President Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on the 22nd. On the eve of his departure, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an held an emergency press conference at 6 PM on the 21st, pointing out that three countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, had canceled the special flight clearance without warning or reason, causing the president's visit to be postponed.
It is understood that the actual reason for the sudden and unjustified cancellation of flight clearances by Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar was strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that 53 African countries, except for Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with China. Together with the African Union, they adopted the "Beijing Declaration" of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, repeatedly expressing firm adherence to the one-China principle. They reiterated that there is only one China in the world, "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, firmly supporting all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed high appreciation for relevant countries upholding the one-China principle, which is fully in line with international law and the basic norms of international relations. "The facts are very clear; the so-called President of the Republic of China has long ceased to exist in the world."
Finally, the spokesperson claimed that the one-China principle is a general trend and "no one can stop the historical trend of China's eventual reunification."
The Presidential Office stated that Beijing authorities externally claim goodwill towards Taiwan and desire for cross-strait peace, but this incident proves that China's goodwill is fake and its threats are real. The Mainland Affairs Council pointed out that the CCP immediately disrupted the president's itinerary after recently announcing 10 measures related to Taiwan, urging citizens to recognize its double-dealing nature. The Executive Yuan stated that the ruling and opposition parties should uniformly stand together against foreign pressure. (Editor: Chu Chien-ling) 1150422
President Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on the 22nd. On the eve of his departure, Presidential Office Secretary-General Pan Men-an held an emergency press conference at 6 PM on the 21st, pointing out that three countries, including Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar, had canceled the special flight clearance without warning or reason, causing the president's visit to be postponed.
It is understood that the actual reason for the sudden and unjustified cancellation of flight clearances by Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar was strong pressure from the Chinese authorities, including economic coercion.
A spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated today that 53 African countries, except for Eswatini, have established diplomatic ties with China. Together with the African Union, they adopted the "Beijing Declaration" of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, repeatedly expressing firm adherence to the one-China principle. They reiterated that there is only one China in the world, "Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, and the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China, firmly supporting all efforts by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson expressed high appreciation for relevant countries upholding the one-China principle, which is fully in line with international law and the basic norms of international relations. "The facts are very clear; the so-called President of the Republic of China has long ceased to exist in the world."
Finally, the spokesperson claimed that the one-China principle is a general trend and "no one can stop the historical trend of China's eventual reunification."
The Presidential Office stated that Beijing authorities externally claim goodwill towards Taiwan and desire for cross-strait peace, but this incident proves that China's goodwill is fake and its threats are real. The Mainland Affairs Council pointed out that the CCP immediately disrupted the president's itinerary after recently announcing 10 measures related to Taiwan, urging citizens to recognize its double-dealing nature. The Executive Yuan stated that the ruling and opposition parties should uniformly stand together against foreign pressure. (Editor: Chu Chien-ling) 1150422