As China has recently been tightening its embrace with African nations, Taiwan President Lai Ching-te visited Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa, pushing through China's pressure. As transit countries repeatedly refused flight permits during the trip, reaffirming African nations' support for the "one China" principle, the Taiwan issue is increasingly likely to emerge as a core agenda item at the U.S.-China summit.
According to Taiwan's Presidential Office on the 4th, President Lai arrived in Eswatini, Africa, at 9 a.m. on the 2nd (local time). He had initially planned to visit Apr. 22–27, but the schedule fell through after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar, which were transit points, joined China's pressure and canceled flight permits. According to local media, the Taiwan government then asked European countries, including Germany and the Czech Republic, for overflight, but that too was rejected.
Lai then headed again to Eswatini aboard the returning official jet of the Eswatini deputy prime minister, who had visited Taiwan as a special envoy on Apr. 30. According to Singapore's Lianhe Zaobao, this is the first time a Taiwan president has departed aboard a foreign leader's official jet.
The Democratic Progressive Party camp assessed Lai's visit to Eswatini as "a successful diplomatic breakthrough that overcame unfair pressure," while Chinese authorities and the Kuomintang criticized it as "a stowaway-style visit" and "a laughingstock of the world."
Experts said the visit instead exposed the structural limits of Taiwan's diplomacy. According to Lianhe Zaobao, Tseng Wei-feng, an associate research fellow at the Institute of International Relations at National Chengchi University, said, "The very formal constraints, such as the Taiwan president using another country's official jet, reflect Taiwan's current diplomatic environment." Zhu Feng, dean of the School of International Studies at Nanjing University in China, also said, "The fact that three African countries refused entry to President Lai's official jet and canceled flight permits strongly shows that, aside from Eswatini, African countries' 'one China principle' is something Taiwan independence forces have no way to shake."
This situation draws even more attention ahead of the U.S.-China summit set for mid-May. Previously, Wang Yi, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs chief, noted in a recent meeting with the United States that "the Taiwan issue is the biggest and most immediate risk in U.S.-China relations. If mishandled, it will have a destructive impact on bilateral ties," and Lai pushed ahead with the Eswatini visit despite China's criticism, further heightening China's wariness.
Reuters reported, "China regards Taiwan as the 'core of core interests' and plans to raise the issue as a top priority at this meeting. The Taiwan issue is expected to lead the discussions between the two leaders," adding, "China wants the United States to adhere more clearly to the 'one China' policy. China will demand that the United States make clear it does not support Taiwan independence."
On the Chinese side, there were also hopeful predictions that the United States would take its side. Zhu said the Taiwan issue will be the most central agenda item at the U.S.-China summit, adding, "There is a high possibility the U.S. and Chinese leaders will jointly express opposition to Taiwan independence. U.S. President Donald Trump has little interest in the Taiwan issue and does not want Taiwan independence forces to obstruct U.S.-China diplomacy."