Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini on Thursday, days after his administration claimed Beijing pressured African nations to block his flight path, forcing a previous trip's cancellation.
The visit to Taiwan's sole remaining diplomatic ally in Africa was kept secret until Lai's plane landed. In a social media post, Lai declared that Taiwan "will never be deterred by external pressures" and vowed to continue engaging with the world despite challenges.
Lai was greeted by Eswatini Prime Minister Russell Dlamini at the airport and reviewed a guard of honor. The delegation includes Taiwan's Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung and National Security Council Adviser Alex Huang.
The original trip, planned for April 22-26 to mark the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's reign, was scrapped after Taiwan alleged Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked flight permits under Chinese pressure.
China's foreign ministry dismissed the visit as a "stowaway-style escape farce," reiterating its claim that Taiwan is part of China. Beijing urged Eswatini to recognize "the general trend of history" and not support "Taiwan independence" separatists.
Eswatini, formerly Swaziland, is one of only 12 nations maintaining official ties with Taipei. China has long pressured countries to switch recognition to Beijing. This week, Beijing announced tariff exemptions for all African nations except Eswatini.
Lai's itinerary includes bilateral talks with King Mswati III and signing a customs agreement, according to Taiwan's presidential office.