Supporting President Lai's Visit: Italian Senate Vice President and MPs Say the Sky Should Not Be Restricted
Following China's pressure that interfered with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini, Italian politicians, including Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio and several MPs, voiced their support for Taiwan. They condemned the revocation of flight permits, emphasizing that skies must not be restricted by political pressure and that Taiwan's diplomatic rights should be respected.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 08:27
- 🔍 Collected: April 25, 2026 at 08:31 (4 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 08:50 (18 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(CNA Reporter Huang Ya-shih, Rome, 25th) Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's visit to the African diplomatic ally Eswatini faced interference from China, prompting a surge of supportive voices for Taiwan within Italian political circles. Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio and several members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies issued statements emphasizing that the sky must not be restricted by political pressure, and that Taiwan should enjoy freedom of travel and maintain its diplomatic relations.
Gian Marco Centinaio stated in a declaration on the 24th that Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, elected through a democratic process, along with all the people, should have the right to travel freely and maintain international relations with diplomatic allies. Based on this, he expressed deep concern over the incident that forced President Lai to postpone his trip to Eswatini.
Centinaio noted that according to Taiwanese authorities, the reason for the postponement of President Lai's visit was that certain countries revoked the flight permits for his special plane. "This makes us feel once again that China is exerting a very serious influence on the decision-making of third countries, with the aim of undermining Taiwan's legitimate diplomatic relations."
Centinaio pointed out that China's attitude is detrimental to maintaining necessary stability and peace, and China's massive military presence in the Taiwan Strait already seriously threatens this stability. Especially at a time when the world is ravaged by war, he hopes all relevant parties can ease tensions and commit to maintaining the status quo to ensure regional prosperity and peace.
Italian Deputy Isabella De Monte also posted on the social network X, noting that preventing the presidential plane from flying to Eswatini is an act of coercion that undermines international diplomacy. Refusing to issue a flight permit under external pressure is not only a hostile act but an attempt to isolate a democratic country that deserves respect and a voice on the world stage. "We stand in solidarity with Taiwan: the sky should not be restricted by political pressure."
Deputy Alessandro Cattaneo, who visited Taiwan in January this year, posted on X that the Eswatini incident sets a severe precedent. When political pressure can determine who can fly, what is blocked is not just a plane, but diplomacy being weakened. "I firmly stand with Taiwan; the sky cannot become an instrument of political pressure."
Another Italian Deputy who visited Taiwan in January, Fabrizio Benzoni, posted on X: "I want to express solidarity with the President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te." He called the forced postponement of President Lai's trip to Eswatini a worrying event that raises questions about disrespect for international rules and diplomatic freedom. He urged that "Taiwan should be allowed to dialogue with the world without interference."
Political commentator Gianni Vernetti, a former Undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also wrote an article on the 24th in the Italian media Linkiesta, titled with "International Bullying Incident," emphasizing that China's blocking of President Lai's visit to Africa increases pressure on Taiwan. He believes the Beijing government's blockade of airspace targeting a head of a democratic state is a sign of China's growing global influence. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150425
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(CNA Reporter Huang Ya-shih, Rome, 25th) Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's visit to the African diplomatic ally Eswatini faced interference from China, prompting a surge of supportive voices for Taiwan within Italian political circles. Senate Vice President Gian Marco Centinaio and several members of the Senate and Chamber of Deputies issued statements emphasizing that the sky must not be restricted by political pressure, and that Taiwan should enjoy freedom of travel and maintain its diplomatic relations.
Gian Marco Centinaio stated in a declaration on the 24th that Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te, elected through a democratic process, along with all the people, should have the right to travel freely and maintain international relations with diplomatic allies. Based on this, he expressed deep concern over the incident that forced President Lai to postpone his trip to Eswatini.
Centinaio noted that according to Taiwanese authorities, the reason for the postponement of President Lai's visit was that certain countries revoked the flight permits for his special plane. "This makes us feel once again that China is exerting a very serious influence on the decision-making of third countries, with the aim of undermining Taiwan's legitimate diplomatic relations."
Centinaio pointed out that China's attitude is detrimental to maintaining necessary stability and peace, and China's massive military presence in the Taiwan Strait already seriously threatens this stability. Especially at a time when the world is ravaged by war, he hopes all relevant parties can ease tensions and commit to maintaining the status quo to ensure regional prosperity and peace.
Italian Deputy Isabella De Monte also posted on the social network X, noting that preventing the presidential plane from flying to Eswatini is an act of coercion that undermines international diplomacy. Refusing to issue a flight permit under external pressure is not only a hostile act but an attempt to isolate a democratic country that deserves respect and a voice on the world stage. "We stand in solidarity with Taiwan: the sky should not be restricted by political pressure."
Deputy Alessandro Cattaneo, who visited Taiwan in January this year, posted on X that the Eswatini incident sets a severe precedent. When political pressure can determine who can fly, what is blocked is not just a plane, but diplomacy being weakened. "I firmly stand with Taiwan; the sky cannot become an instrument of political pressure."
Another Italian Deputy who visited Taiwan in January, Fabrizio Benzoni, posted on X: "I want to express solidarity with the President of the Republic of China, Lai Ching-te." He called the forced postponement of President Lai's trip to Eswatini a worrying event that raises questions about disrespect for international rules and diplomatic freedom. He urged that "Taiwan should be allowed to dialogue with the world without interference."
Political commentator Gianni Vernetti, a former Undersecretary of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also wrote an article on the 24th in the Italian media Linkiesta, titled with "International Bullying Incident," emphasizing that China's blocking of President Lai's visit to Africa increases pressure on Taiwan. He believes the Beijing government's blockade of airspace targeting a head of a democratic state is a sign of China's growing global influence. (Editor: Chen Hui-ping) 1150425
Choose to stand with the facts, every sponsorship from you is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the CNA '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.