President Lai visits Eswatini, US praises Taiwan as trusted partner to many nations
Despite initial delays due to Chinese interference, Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te has arrived in Eswatini for a state visit. The U.S. State Department praised Taiwan as a "trusted and capable partner" to the U.S. and many other countries, stating that such visits are routine and should not be politicized. The visit aims to deepen ties focusing on security, economy, and digital cooperation.
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- 📰 Published: May 4, 2026 at 01:22
- 🔍 Collected: May 4, 2026 at 01:31 (8 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 4, 2026 at 01:34 (2 min after Collected)
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 3rd) Despite an earlier itinerary being postponed due to Chinese interference, President Lai Ching-te has arrived in the African ally Eswatini for a state visit. The U.S. State Department, in response to a CNA reporter's query today, stated that Taiwan is a trusted and capable partner to the United States and many other countries; Taiwan's relations with countries around the world bring significant benefits to the citizens of those countries, including Eswatini. The State Department emphasized that a Taiwanese president's visit to Eswatini is a routine visit and should not be politicized.
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit the Kingdom of Eswatini from April 22 to 27. Due to Chinese interference, three African nations—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—temporarily revoked flight permits for the presidential plane, leading the Presidential Office to postpone the itinerary.
Although the visit was urgently delayed due to Chinese interference, President Lai still arrived in Eswatini on the 2nd (Taipei time) to commence his state visit. The Presidential Office stated that this visit will focus on three major axes: shared security, shared economic prosperity, and shared digital development, aiming to deepen the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Eswatini.
Regarding President Lai's arrival in Eswatini, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department today responded to a reporter's question via email on background, stating that Taiwan is a trusted and capable partner to the United States and many other countries; Taiwan's relations with countries around the world bring significant benefits to the citizens of those countries, including Eswatini.
The spokesperson pointed out that every democratically elected Taiwanese president has traveled abroad to visit Taiwan's diplomatic allies, "President Lai's predecessor visited Eswatini in 2023 and 2018; such trips are routine visits and should not be politicized."
Former President Tsai Ing-wen visited Eswatini in 2018 and 2023. (Edited by Ho Hung-ju) 1150504
(Central News Agency reporter Hou Tzu-ying, Washington, 3rd) Despite an earlier itinerary being postponed due to Chinese interference, President Lai Ching-te has arrived in the African ally Eswatini for a state visit. The U.S. State Department, in response to a CNA reporter's query today, stated that Taiwan is a trusted and capable partner to the United States and many other countries; Taiwan's relations with countries around the world bring significant benefits to the citizens of those countries, including Eswatini. The State Department emphasized that a Taiwanese president's visit to Eswatini is a routine visit and should not be politicized.
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit the Kingdom of Eswatini from April 22 to 27. Due to Chinese interference, three African nations—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—temporarily revoked flight permits for the presidential plane, leading the Presidential Office to postpone the itinerary.
Although the visit was urgently delayed due to Chinese interference, President Lai still arrived in Eswatini on the 2nd (Taipei time) to commence his state visit. The Presidential Office stated that this visit will focus on three major axes: shared security, shared economic prosperity, and shared digital development, aiming to deepen the diplomatic ties between Taiwan and Eswatini.
Regarding President Lai's arrival in Eswatini, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department today responded to a reporter's question via email on background, stating that Taiwan is a trusted and capable partner to the United States and many other countries; Taiwan's relations with countries around the world bring significant benefits to the citizens of those countries, including Eswatini.
The spokesperson pointed out that every democratically elected Taiwanese president has traveled abroad to visit Taiwan's diplomatic allies, "President Lai's predecessor visited Eswatini in 2023 and 2018; such trips are routine visits and should not be politicized."
Former President Tsai Ing-wen visited Eswatini in 2018 and 2023. (Edited by Ho Hung-ju) 1150504