Presidential Office: Special Plane Obtained Flight Permits According to Procedure, Claims of Unapproved Air Rights False
Taiwan's Presidential Office refuted reports that President Lai Ching-te's special plane flight permits for his Swaziland visit were revoked due to Chinese pressure, stating the permits were obtained procedurally in mid-April. The international community has also condemned China's political interference.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 25, 2026 at 13:28
- 🔍 Collected: April 25, 2026 at 13:31 (3 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 25, 2026 at 13:38 (6 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Wen Guixiang, Taipei, April 25) Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated today that the execution of the President's special plane mission, as per custom, involves the designated airline applying for primary and backup routes. President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Swaziland also had its flight permits for countries like Mauritius completed in mid-April according to procedure. Claims that air rights were unapproved are false and clearly fabricated.
President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to African ally Swaziland on the 22nd was postponed because Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar suddenly cancelled special plane flight permits. Media reports stated that Mauritian officials said they never approved the air rights application.
Kuo Ya-hui said in an interview with the media this morning that President Lai's planned visit to Swaziland was postponed, and in recent days, democratic allies have clearly expressed and jointly believe that this is due to pressure from China. Democratic allies have also expressed opposition to Beijing's political pressure causing third countries to temporarily change air rights.
She said that if anyone deliberately fabricates stories and distorts facts in the name of a third country under pressure, it is highly reprehensible and a clear fabrication.
Kuo Ya-hui stated that when Taiwan executes a presidential special plane mission, the designated airline applies for primary and backup routes as per custom to ensure the safety of the special plane's journey. This time, the special plane's flight permits for Mauritius and other countries were also completed in mid-April according to procedure. Claims that the special plane did not apply for or had unapproved air rights are false.
She said that more and more international democratic allies do not approve of China's use of economic coercion to pressure third countries, such as cancelling flight permits to interfere with Taiwan's diplomatic activities. She expressed surprise that some people are still using the name of an oppressed country to distort facts.
Kuo Ya-hui said that she sincerely thanks the US Department of State, the EU, Japan, Germany, and France for successively expressing their support for Taiwan in recent days. This also proves that the international consensus is that this incident is China's political pressure interfering with normal diplomatic behavior.
She stated that the more China suppresses, the more the world sees Taiwan. Taiwan will continue to work hand-in-hand with like-minded democratic allies to maintain democratic values. (Edited by: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150425
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(Central News Agency reporter Wen Guixiang, Taipei, April 25) Presidential Office spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated today that the execution of the President's special plane mission, as per custom, involves the designated airline applying for primary and backup routes. President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to Swaziland also had its flight permits for countries like Mauritius completed in mid-April according to procedure. Claims that air rights were unapproved are false and clearly fabricated.
President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to African ally Swaziland on the 22nd was postponed because Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar suddenly cancelled special plane flight permits. Media reports stated that Mauritian officials said they never approved the air rights application.
Kuo Ya-hui said in an interview with the media this morning that President Lai's planned visit to Swaziland was postponed, and in recent days, democratic allies have clearly expressed and jointly believe that this is due to pressure from China. Democratic allies have also expressed opposition to Beijing's political pressure causing third countries to temporarily change air rights.
She said that if anyone deliberately fabricates stories and distorts facts in the name of a third country under pressure, it is highly reprehensible and a clear fabrication.
Kuo Ya-hui stated that when Taiwan executes a presidential special plane mission, the designated airline applies for primary and backup routes as per custom to ensure the safety of the special plane's journey. This time, the special plane's flight permits for Mauritius and other countries were also completed in mid-April according to procedure. Claims that the special plane did not apply for or had unapproved air rights are false.
She said that more and more international democratic allies do not approve of China's use of economic coercion to pressure third countries, such as cancelling flight permits to interfere with Taiwan's diplomatic activities. She expressed surprise that some people are still using the name of an oppressed country to distort facts.
Kuo Ya-hui said that she sincerely thanks the US Department of State, the EU, Japan, Germany, and France for successively expressing their support for Taiwan in recent days. This also proves that the international consensus is that this incident is China's political pressure interfering with normal diplomatic behavior.
She stated that the more China suppresses, the more the world sees Taiwan. Taiwan will continue to work hand-in-hand with like-minded democratic allies to maintain democratic values. (Edited by: Hsieh Chia-chen) 1150425
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is the power to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay up-to-date with the latest news.
The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.