President Lai Breaks Through to Visit Eswatini, Wall Street Journal: Taiwan Achieves Surprise Victory
After President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to ally Eswatini was temporarily postponed last month due to unexpected external forces, he announced yesterday that he had arrived in Eswatini. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Taiwan, facing suppression from China and striving for international recognition, achieved a surprise victory in this contest of wills.
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- 📰 Published: May 3, 2026 at 20:21
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Taipei, May 3 (CNA) — After President Lai Ching-te's planned visit to ally Eswatini was temporarily postponed last month due to unexpected external forces, he announced yesterday that he had arrived in Eswatini. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Taiwan, facing suppression from China and striving for international recognition, achieved a surprise victory in this contest of wills.
President Lai's scheduled trip to Eswatini on April 22 was postponed. The Presidential Office stated that three countries—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—unexpectedly canceled flight permits without prior notice, with the actual reason being strong pressure from China, including economic coercion.
However, President Lai posted on social media yesterday that, thanks to the meticulous arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams over several days, he successfully arrived in Eswatini later that day. President Lai did not publicly explain how he arrived.
The report noted that the Presidential Office subsequently issued a message of victory. Presidential Office Spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated that despite the temporary postponement of the President's itinerary due to unexpected external factors, this would not affect Taiwan's will to engage with the world.
Sung Wen-ti, an analyst based in Taipei at the Atlantic Council, a Washington D.C. think tank, believes that the series of controversies surrounding President Lai's visit to Eswatini highlight Beijing's unscrupulous efforts to suppress Taiwan. “Taiwan will strive to prove that it will not allow Beijing to substantially block its international visibility.”
Taiwanese officials stated that the specific process of the President's arrival in Eswatini would only be announced after the President concludes his state visit and returns to Taiwan. (Edited by Hung Chi-yuan) 1150503
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President Lai's scheduled trip to Eswatini on April 22 was postponed. The Presidential Office stated that three countries—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—unexpectedly canceled flight permits without prior notice, with the actual reason being strong pressure from China, including economic coercion.
However, President Lai posted on social media yesterday that, thanks to the meticulous arrangements by the diplomatic and national security teams over several days, he successfully arrived in Eswatini later that day. President Lai did not publicly explain how he arrived.
The report noted that the Presidential Office subsequently issued a message of victory. Presidential Office Spokesperson Kuo Ya-hui stated that despite the temporary postponement of the President's itinerary due to unexpected external factors, this would not affect Taiwan's will to engage with the world.
Sung Wen-ti, an analyst based in Taipei at the Atlantic Council, a Washington D.C. think tank, believes that the series of controversies surrounding President Lai's visit to Eswatini highlight Beijing's unscrupulous efforts to suppress Taiwan. “Taiwan will strive to prove that it will not allow Beijing to substantially block its international visibility.”
Taiwanese officials stated that the specific process of the President's arrival in Eswatini would only be announced after the President concludes his state visit and returns to Taiwan. (Edited by Hung Chi-yuan) 1150503
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you give supports press freedom.
Download CNA's "Firsthand News" APP to get the latest news instantly.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.