Scholars are praising President Lai Ching-te's recent surprise visit to
Eswatini.

Defense and policy experts say, the successful trip utilized the
"announcement upon arrival" strategy to get around pressure from Beijing.

The trip was made after earlier plans were cancelled.

Lai ended up taking the Eswatinian king's private jet to the southern African
country.

On the return flight, the president's plane diverted south, testing the
limits of the A340, covering about 13000 kilometers without refueling.

Scholars say, the "announcement upon arrival" strategy and the chartering of
private jets will be a crucial tool to continue to combat Chinese pressure.

However, other scholars note that these methods significantly increase the
cost of Taiwan's participation in international politics and should not
become the new normal.

Despite the trip being described as a "breakthrough," the president himself
said that such bilateral visits are a basic right.

(AH)