U.S. Criticizes African Nations for Blocking Lai’s Flight, Accuses Them of Bowing to China’s Demands

Washington: The United States government has criticized three African nations for revoking overflight clearances for Taiwan's President Lai Ching-te's trip to Eswatini. The U.S. alleges that these countries have succumbed to China's political pressure, disrupting the routine travel of Taiwanese officials. According to Focus Taiwan, a U.S. State Department spokesperson expressed concern over the actions of the unnamed countries, suggesting they were influenced by Beijing. The spokesperson highlighted that these nations are responsible for managing international airspace within their respective Flight Information Regions, primarily to ensure aviation safety, not as a political instrument. The spokesperson further accused China of leveraging intimidation tactics against Taiwan and its global supporters, thereby jeopardizing international peace and aviation systems. Taiwan's Presidential Office identified the countries involved as the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar. The revocation of overflight permissio ns was attributed to "economic coercion" from China. The decision was announced just a day before Lai's planned visit to Eswatini, the only African nation maintaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The Seychelles and Madagascar have stated that their decisions were made independently, emphasizing that they do not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign nation. Meanwhile, China's foreign ministry praised the three African countries for adhering to the one-China principle, asserting that Taiwan is an inseparable part of China's territory. The U.K.'s representative to Taiwan, Ruth Bradley-Jones, emphasized that airspace management should prioritize safety and stability over political considerations. Her sentiments were echoed by the foreign ministries of Belize and Paraguay, Taiwan's diplomatic allies, who also expressed their apprehension regarding the decision.