On May 2, 2026, Lai Ching-te, the President of the Republic of China, announced on Facebook that he had arrived in Eswatini (referred to as Swaziland on the mainland) for an official visit. (Source: Facebook of President Lai Ching-te)
[People News] The Chinese Communist Party disregarded international diplomatic norms by pressuring three African nations regarding President Lai Ching-te's visit, resulting in the closure of their airspace. This forced Taiwan to delay President Lai's travel plans. Nevertheless, Taiwan managed to overcome the CCP's blockade, allowing Lai Ching-te to successfully visit the allied nation and return safely to Taiwan on May 5. Many analysts suggest that this incident transcends mere diplomatic manoeuvring; while Beijing believes it wields significant power, it has inadvertently prompted the international community to reflect on a more profound issue: when a major power transforms diplomacy into a tool for political conflict, is it genuinely expanding its influence, or is it merely eroding its own international credibility?
The Strategy of Delaying Military Action: Taiwan's Goals Are Essential.
According to the Liberty Times, which cites Taiwanese national security officials, prior to announcing the 'postponement' of the visit, the national security and diplomatic team had already prepared a plan regarding 'Beijing's pressure on countries to revoke flight permissions.' This allowed Taiwan to promptly activate its response. During the return trip, China once again exerted 48 hours of continuous pressure. Fortunately, with the full support of its 'brotherly' ally, China's scheme to undermine international rules was successfully thwarted.
National security officials indicated that the statement from the Presidential Office on April 22 regarding the 'postponement' of the visit was essentially laying the groundwork for a 'must-do' situation. The rationale is straightforward: 'We cannot allow others to draw red lines at our doorstep.' National diplomatic actions are a fundamental right as a member of the international community, a symbol of sovereignty, and a commitment to allies that Taiwan must uphold. The overall strategy has three objectives: to showcase national diplomatic power, to jointly uphold international rules, and to deepen exchanges with allies.
Officials emphasised that Taiwan's decision to postpone the visit upon confirming the cancellation of flight permissions was made with the safety of the head of state in mind. It also strictly adhered to international law and norms, firmly avoiding any 'grey areas.' We are not China; while others may overlook flight safety and international standards, the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) will not.
National security officials have indicated that Beijing has continued its pressure during President Lai Ching-te's return trip to Taiwan, employing all possible channels and means to exert influence over the past 48 hours, attempting to resort to old tactics. However, Eswatini has shown 'brotherly' support, with the King of Eswatini not only strongly backing our proposal but also sending the Deputy Prime Minister to Taiwan in person. As a sovereign nation with over a hundred diplomatic allies, Eswatini's stance has made the Chinese Communist Party cautious, ultimately foiling their attempts to undermine international norms.
Officials noted that Beijing's pressure not only failed to isolate Taiwan but also resulted in a negative portrayal of itself as a disruptor of international order, revealing its emotional responses, which is quite unfortunate for a major power. In response to external scepticism regarding Lai's use of the 'ATA (Arrive then announce)' model, which some view as a strategy for entering a conflict zone, officials dismissed this as 'naive talk.' The essence of this model is 'risk management,' aimed at safeguarding against Beijing's interference with our flight safety, and it does not detract from the fact that this trip is a 'formal state visit.'
Reports from Taiwanese media indicate that President Lai Ching-te has arrived in Eswatini for a three-day state visit. The obstruction from the Chinese Communist Party has instead garnered significant attention from the international community. The U.S. State Department has praised Taiwan as a 'trustworthy and capable partner,' highlighting that Taiwan's relationships with countries worldwide bring substantial benefits to their citizens, including those in Eswatini. President Lai's visit to Eswatini is regarded as a routine diplomatic engagement and should not be politicised.
Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te is set to embark on a three-day state visit to the African ally Eswatini from May 2 to May 5, 2026. During this visit, King Mswati III of Eswatini presented President Lai with a gold medal necklace. (Taiwan Presidential Office)
Xi Jinping's immaturity is evident.
Akiyoshi Yaita, Executive Director of the Indo-Pacific Strategy Institute and a veteran media figure in Japan, highlighted in a Facebook post that Beijing had meticulously crafted a diplomatic strategy to 'lock Taiwan down.' By directly utilising air rights to obstruct the Taiwanese leader's visit, Beijing effectively signalled to the world: without my permission, you can't even take to the skies. This time, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) clearly overstepped the mark, being excessively heavy-handed, overly urgent, and immature. It is no surprise that the United States, Japan, and several other nations openly opposed this move. Consequently, China (the CCP) not only failed to suppress Taiwan but also transformed a routine visit into a politically significant event that attracted global attention, ultimately becoming an international laughingstock.
Akiyoshi Yaita further noted that the backlash in public opinion has been even more embarrassing. Initially, CCP media was very vocal, ridiculing Lai Ching-te as 'escaping from prison' and predicting that he 'would not return,' making such extreme claims. However, Taiwan adjusted its flight routes and changed its approach, successfully arriving and returning, which turned all the harsh rhetoric into a boomerang. Diplomacy is not about making loud statements; it is about achieving results. The outcome is clear: Beijing lost not only face but also the last shred of respect from the international community regarding its capabilities as a major power. Ultimately, the one who lost is Xi Jinping himself. What was intended to undermine Lai Ching-te ended up embarrassing Xi; the desire to showcase control instead exposed risks to the world; and the attempt to demonstrate the effectiveness of the blockade ultimately highlighted its failures.
Further Exposure of the CCP's 'Big Bullies Small' Rogue Behaviour
A reader of the People's Daily, 'Qin Yue', commented that Beijing has long been suppressing Taiwan's ability to survive and participate in the international community. Whether it concerns diplomatic recognition, international organisations, or bilateral cooperation, the CCP attempts to marginalise Taiwan through pressure and manipulation of resources. However, the issue is that the CCP ultimately realizes, after all its maneuvering, that the wolf warrior diplomacy led by Xi Jinping has, on one hand, reinforced the CCP's rogue behavior of 'big bullies small' in the eyes of the world; on the other hand, it has led more countries to reconsider how to balance their relationships with the CCP between cooperation and pressure. When diplomacy shifts from 'mutually beneficial cooperation' to 'political alignment', and when support transforms into pressure, backlash and vigilance inevitably arise. In other words, when a dictatorial regime continuously seeks to restrict the space of others, it may ultimately find its own international image and long-term influence being compressed. From this perspective, the CCP and Xi Jinping have not only failed to win this time but have also lost both face and substance. △
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