Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has arrived in the African nation of Eswatini after postponing a trip to the country in April. Taiwan said some countries revoked flight permits for his plane due to pressure from China.
Lai announced his arrival in a social media post on Saturday. Eswatini is the only African nation that has diplomatic ties with Taiwan.
He said that Taiwan cherishes freedom and peace and does not seek confrontation, and will never give up engaging with the world.
Taiwan’s presidential office says Lai held talks with King Mswati III, and they confirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
When postponing Lai’s trip last month, the office said three island nations had rescinded flight permits for the president’s aircraft to fly over their territories, due to pressure from China.
Taiwanese media reports say Lai flew to Eswatini on the king’s private jet.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement on Saturday that Lai sneaked onto a foreign plane to smuggle himself out of the island, performing a laughable stunt in front of the world.
The official criticized Lai’s Democratic Progressive Party, which China regards as being pro-independence.
China is stepping up pressure on Taiwanese administrations led by the party that refuses to accept China’s claim that Taiwan is part of its territory.
Since the party took power in May 2016, the number of countries with diplomatic ties with Taiwan has fallen from 22 to 12.