Beijing Obstructs President Lai's Foreign Trip, National Security Officials: Pre-planned Breakthrough Scenarios and Countermeasures
When President Lai Ching-te returned safely from his trip to Eswatini, China attempted to obstruct his flight path, but Taiwan's National Security Team had pre-planned countermeasures, successfully avoiding the interference. China tried to obstruct through diplomatic means, but Taiwan demonstrated its commitment to international law and its diplomatic rights.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 5, 2026 at 23:27
- 🔍 Collected: May 5, 2026 at 23:31 (4 min after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 6, 2026 at 00:07 (35 min after Collected)
Central News
(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei 5th) President Lai Ching-te successfully returned to Taiwan today after concluding his trip to Eswatini. National security officials revealed that even before the announcement of the "postponement" of the trip, the national security team had a pre-planned scenario of "Beijing pressuring transit countries to cancel flight permits" and immediately activated countermeasures. Even after President Lai arrived in Eswatini on May 2nd, Beijing did not give up various diplomatic means to obstruct President Lai's return journey.
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on April 22nd, but due to the unexpected cancellation of special plane flight permits by three African countries—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—the trip was temporarily postponed. However, the Presidential Office immediately reactivated the trip; President Lai posted on Facebook on the evening of May 2nd, "I arrived in our ally Eswatini a short while ago."
National security officials provided background information to the media today,还原 the process. He stated that the Presidential Office's statement of "postponement" on April 22nd had laid the groundwork, emphasizing that "no one is allowed to draw a red line at our doorstep," and therefore, diplomatic rights must be concretely demonstrated regardless of the circumstances.
The official stated that President Lai's foreign trip adhered to three core objectives: Taiwan must demonstrate its obligation to exercise national diplomatic rights; Taiwan must jointly uphold international rules; and deepen exchanges and cooperation with allies.
The official pointed out that due to meticulous intelligence monitoring and analysis of all possible scenarios and the formulation of countermeasures, the decision to temporarily postpone the trip at the first instance of flight permit revocation was based on considerations of ensuring the safety of the head of state, and also strictly adhering to international law and international norms. Taiwan clearly confirmed that it would "not walk in the gray area," and all flights would comply with relevant regulations, ensuring that the Republic of China (Taiwan) would not set a bad example.
It is understood that Beijing's pressure on African countries to cancel flight permits was one of the scenarios pre-planned by the national security team. Therefore, when the three island nations in Africa successively canceled flight permits 2 to 3 days before April 22nd, the national security team had already activated countermeasures.
The official stated that when confirming the route and security arrangements, it was decided that the King of Eswatini's special plane would serve as "Air Force One," and the relevant plan quickly received the King's and the Eswatini government's promise and strong support.
National security officials stated that China did not give up on President Lai's return journey to Taiwan, continuing strong diplomatic mobilization in recent days to try to influence President Lai's return plan. From the flight trajectory of the return to Taiwan, after the special plane left the African continent, it first flew southeast, clearly avoiding Madagascar and Mauritius.
National security officials said that Beijing thought these actions could trap Taiwan, but in fact, they trapped themselves. China trapped itself in the image of unilaterally undermining international order, which is a great pity for a major power. (Edited by Pan Yi-ching) 1150505
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(Central News Agency reporter Yeh Su-ping, Taipei 5th) President Lai Ching-te successfully returned to Taiwan today after concluding his trip to Eswatini. National security officials revealed that even before the announcement of the "postponement" of the trip, the national security team had a pre-planned scenario of "Beijing pressuring transit countries to cancel flight permits" and immediately activated countermeasures. Even after President Lai arrived in Eswatini on May 2nd, Beijing did not give up various diplomatic means to obstruct President Lai's return journey.
President Lai was originally scheduled to visit Eswatini on April 22nd, but due to the unexpected cancellation of special plane flight permits by three African countries—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—the trip was temporarily postponed. However, the Presidential Office immediately reactivated the trip; President Lai posted on Facebook on the evening of May 2nd, "I arrived in our ally Eswatini a short while ago."
National security officials provided background information to the media today,还原 the process. He stated that the Presidential Office's statement of "postponement" on April 22nd had laid the groundwork, emphasizing that "no one is allowed to draw a red line at our doorstep," and therefore, diplomatic rights must be concretely demonstrated regardless of the circumstances.
The official stated that President Lai's foreign trip adhered to three core objectives: Taiwan must demonstrate its obligation to exercise national diplomatic rights; Taiwan must jointly uphold international rules; and deepen exchanges and cooperation with allies.
The official pointed out that due to meticulous intelligence monitoring and analysis of all possible scenarios and the formulation of countermeasures, the decision to temporarily postpone the trip at the first instance of flight permit revocation was based on considerations of ensuring the safety of the head of state, and also strictly adhering to international law and international norms. Taiwan clearly confirmed that it would "not walk in the gray area," and all flights would comply with relevant regulations, ensuring that the Republic of China (Taiwan) would not set a bad example.
It is understood that Beijing's pressure on African countries to cancel flight permits was one of the scenarios pre-planned by the national security team. Therefore, when the three island nations in Africa successively canceled flight permits 2 to 3 days before April 22nd, the national security team had already activated countermeasures.
The official stated that when confirming the route and security arrangements, it was decided that the King of Eswatini's special plane would serve as "Air Force One," and the relevant plan quickly received the King's and the Eswatini government's promise and strong support.
National security officials stated that China did not give up on President Lai's return journey to Taiwan, continuing strong diplomatic mobilization in recent days to try to influence President Lai's return plan. From the flight trajectory of the return to Taiwan, after the special plane left the African continent, it first flew southeast, clearly avoiding Madagascar and Mauritius.
National security officials said that Beijing thought these actions could trap Taiwan, but in fact, they trapped themselves. China trapped itself in the image of unilaterally undermining international order, which is a great pity for a major power. (Edited by Pan Yi-ching) 1150505
Choose to stand with facts, every sponsorship you make is a force to protect press freedom.
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The text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, publicly transmitted, or utilized without authorization.