Presidential Office confirms Beijing pressure behind Lai's blocked Africa
Posted on 2026-04-30 18:16:14
trip
The Presidential Office says Chinese pressure is to blame for President Lai Ching-te's failed trip to Eswatini.
Spokesperson Karen Kuo says countries that had already approved flight permits canceled them at the last minute because of pressure from Beijing.
Her comments follow a Bloomberg report citing sources who say Germany and the Czech Republic both turned down emergency transit requests after three other countries withdrew overflight permits for Lai's plane.
Kuo did not directly address the European transit denials, but thanked allied nations that helped during the negotiations.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had earlier declined to confirm or deny details of the reported denials.
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