President Lai's Visit Blocked; Argentine Think Tank and Uruguayan Former Lawmaker Condemn China
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's trip to Eswatini was delayed after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar suddenly revoked flight permits. Argentine and Uruguayan supporters condemned China for its interference.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 23, 2026 at 22:39
- 🔍 Collected: April 23, 2026 at 23:02 (22 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 23, 2026 at 23:40 (38 min after Collected)
BUENOS AIRES (CNA) — President Lai Ching-te's scheduled visit to the African ally Eswatini on the 22nd was interrupted after several countries along the route abruptly cancelled flight permits. Think tanks in Argentina and former lawmakers in Uruguay have voiced support on social media, condemning China's interference in Taiwan's international rights.
President Lai originally planned a direct flight to Eswatini, but the trip was put on hold as Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked permits for the presidential plane without warning. Former Uruguayan lawmaker Pablo Viana stated on X that this was not an isolated incident but part of the aggressive and repressive expansion of the communist regime, urging the international community to recognize the threat to global diplomatic stability.
The Argentine think tank FREE (Fundación银河) issued a statement strongly condemning China for using political and economic pressure to coerce third countries into withdrawing flight rights, calling it a violation of international law and national sovereignty. Reports from Argentine media outlet INFOBAE pointed out that China is weaponizing 'airspace blockade' as a new tool for diplomatic encirclement. The Representative Office in Argentina stated that various pro-Taiwan organizations and regional activists have expressed their concern regarding the situation.
President Lai originally planned a direct flight to Eswatini, but the trip was put on hold as Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked permits for the presidential plane without warning. Former Uruguayan lawmaker Pablo Viana stated on X that this was not an isolated incident but part of the aggressive and repressive expansion of the communist regime, urging the international community to recognize the threat to global diplomatic stability.
The Argentine think tank FREE (Fundación银河) issued a statement strongly condemning China for using political and economic pressure to coerce third countries into withdrawing flight rights, calling it a violation of international law and national sovereignty. Reports from Argentine media outlet INFOBAE pointed out that China is weaponizing 'airspace blockade' as a new tool for diplomatic encirclement. The Representative Office in Argentina stated that various pro-Taiwan organizations and regional activists have expressed their concern regarding the situation.