President Lai's Foreign Visit Obstructed: Philippine Taiwanese Association Condemns China's Political Coercion
The Philippine Taiwanese Association strongly condemned China's politicization of international airspace and its use of political coercion, after Taiwan's President-elect Lai Ching-te's visit to Eswatini was obstructed due to revoked flight permits. The association warned that such actions threaten the international order and could impact other nations like the Philippines.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 27, 2026 at 12:44
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 13:01 (17 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 28, 2026 at 02:01 (12h 59m after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Lin Hsing-Chien, Manila, 27th) President-elect Lai Ching-te's visit to an African ally was obstructed, leading the Philippine Taiwanese Association to issue a statement strongly condemning China for weaponizing international airspace as a tool for political coercion, which was published by several Philippine media outlets.
President-elect Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini, an African ally, on the 22nd, but the trip could not proceed due to the revocation of flight permits. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung was then dispatched as a special envoy. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately issued a statement condemning China for politically interfering with international civil aviation operations and Taiwan's legitimate diplomatic exchanges with various countries.
The Philippine Taiwanese Association recently issued a statement strongly condemning China for weaponizing international airspace as a tool for political coercion against Taiwan. This statement was subsequently published by media outlets such as the Manila Standard, Daily Tribune, and The Philippine Business and News.
The Association pointed out that Beijing authorities pressured Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to revoke the special flight permits, forcing the cancellation of President-elect Lai's itinerary, calling it "naked coercion." China's use of international airspace as a political tool threatens the existing international order, and the Philippines, which also faces harassment and intimidation in the South China Sea, should be vigilant.
The statement wrote that Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, whose leaders are elected, should enjoy the right to normal interaction with the international community. It called on the international community to take a clearer stance, reject any country's politicization of international airspace, oppose diplomatic coercion, uphold the freedom and openness of sea and air domains under international law, and support Taiwan's participation in international exchanges without interference.
The Association emphasized that if coercion is tolerated, it will spread. Only through collective resistance can it be deterred. "Today it is Taiwan, tomorrow it could be any country, including the Philippines." The stability of the region depends on whether countries are willing to collectively defend a rules-based international order. (Editor: Tien Jui-Hua) 1150427
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(Central News Agency reporter Lin Hsing-Chien, Manila, 27th) President-elect Lai Ching-te's visit to an African ally was obstructed, leading the Philippine Taiwanese Association to issue a statement strongly condemning China for weaponizing international airspace as a tool for political coercion, which was published by several Philippine media outlets.
President-elect Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini, an African ally, on the 22nd, but the trip could not proceed due to the revocation of flight permits. Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung was then dispatched as a special envoy. Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately issued a statement condemning China for politically interfering with international civil aviation operations and Taiwan's legitimate diplomatic exchanges with various countries.
The Philippine Taiwanese Association recently issued a statement strongly condemning China for weaponizing international airspace as a tool for political coercion against Taiwan. This statement was subsequently published by media outlets such as the Manila Standard, Daily Tribune, and The Philippine Business and News.
The Association pointed out that Beijing authorities pressured Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar to revoke the special flight permits, forcing the cancellation of President-elect Lai's itinerary, calling it "naked coercion." China's use of international airspace as a political tool threatens the existing international order, and the Philippines, which also faces harassment and intimidation in the South China Sea, should be vigilant.
The statement wrote that Taiwan, with a population of 23 million, whose leaders are elected, should enjoy the right to normal interaction with the international community. It called on the international community to take a clearer stance, reject any country's politicization of international airspace, oppose diplomatic coercion, uphold the freedom and openness of sea and air domains under international law, and support Taiwan's participation in international exchanges without interference.
The Association emphasized that if coercion is tolerated, it will spread. Only through collective resistance can it be deterred. "Today it is Taiwan, tomorrow it could be any country, including the Philippines." The stability of the region depends on whether countries are willing to collectively defend a rules-based international order. (Editor: Tien Jui-Hua) 1150427
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a power to protect press freedom.
Download Central News Agency's "First-Hand News" APP to stay updated 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.