Eswatini Deputy PM visits Taiwan after Lai’s blocked visit

Eswatini Deputy PM visits Taiwan after Lai’s blocked visit

2026-05-01

Last week, President Lai Ching-te was blocked from visiting Eswatini, after China pressured three countries in Africa to close their airspaces to his plane. But a meet between the two sides happened anyway on Friday, in Taiwan. The Deputy Prime Minister of Taiwan’s diplomatic ally in Africa sat with Lai on Friday, underscoring the strong bilateral ties.

They shake hands tightly and exchange words of gratitude, then the president goes in for a hug. The Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini arrived in Taiwan on Thursday afternoon. Her first stop was the Presidential Office.

Lai Ching-te
President
Given the challenges we faced, I would like to thank King Mswati III of Eswatini for the assistance and support provided to Taiwan at the first moment.

Thulisile Dladla
Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini
We are no longer bilateral friends, but now family. No enemy can come in between a strong family.

Both parties offered warm words of goodwill, after all, meeting in person was no easy feat. The occasion even brought out locals to witness the Eswatini special plane landing in Taiwan. Lai reiterated that Taiwan-Eswatini relations will not be shaken by China.

Lai Ching-te
President
This concrete action sends a clear message to the international community: Taiwan’s friendship with Eswatini will not be shaken by China’s pressure, and our two countries will not yield to Beijing.

Thulisile Dladla
Deputy Prime Minister of Eswatini
Despite all that befell us, you must come and visit the kingdom to show the world that the air space is free.

China’s meddling prevented Lai from visiting Eswatini last week. But as strong diplomatic allies, the deputy PM’s visit shows that if Lai can’t go to Eswatini, Eswatini comes to Lai.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#taiwan #eswatini #diplomacy #africa #visit

史瓦帝尼國王特使來台! 賴總統:不向霸權屈服

2026-05-01

總統賴清德原定4月22日訪問非洲友邦史瓦帝尼，後來因為中國施壓，導致非洲3個國家撤回飛航許可、出訪暫緩。為了展現台史雙方深厚的邦誼不受影響，史王派了特使札杜莉副總理訪台，週四總統賴清德也親自接見。

兩雙手緊緊握，彼此互道感謝，總統賴清德更送上擁抱，史瓦帝尼的副總理札杜莉，30號下午抵達台灣後，直奔總統府。

[[總統賴清德]]
“這次我們所遭遇的挑戰，我要感謝史瓦帝尼三世，第一時間給予台灣的各項協助與支持”

[[史瓦帝尼副總理札杜莉]]
“我們不再是雙邊的朋友而是家人，而且也沒有任何的敵人或是對手，可以在家人之間挑撥離間”

雙方溫情送暖，畢竟要見上這一面真的不容易，還有民眾目擊到史瓦帝尼專機降落桃園機場，總統向各界表達，台史邦誼不會因中國打壓而動搖。

[[總統賴清德]]
“這個具體行動向國際社會傳達了明確的訊息，就是台灣與史瓦帝尼的邦誼，不會因為中國的打壓而動搖，我們兩國也不會因此而向霸權屈服”

[[史瓦帝尼副總理札杜莉]]
“即使我們現在遇到了這些狀況，希望您一定要想辦法來到史瓦帝尼來訪問，我們要讓全世界都知道，這個領空是自由而且獨立的”

中國惡霸攔阻我國元首出訪，但史瓦帝尼用行動證明，中國越是無理打壓，只會讓民主陣線的夥伴，關係更加鞏固。

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