Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (R) and Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla (L) arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport following his visit to Eswatini, in Taoyuan on May 5, 2026

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te (R) and Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla (L) arrive at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport following his visit to Eswatini, in Taoyuan on May 5, 2026

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te said Tuesday the democratic island has the "right to engage with the world", after he returned from a trip to Africa that Taipei has accused Beijing of trying to derail.

Taiwan said China applied "intense pressure" to Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar to revoke overflight permits for Lai's original trip to Eswatini, Taipei's only ally in Africa, which had been scheduled for April 22-26.

Originally published on doc.afp.com, part of the BLOX Digital Content Exchange.

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