- Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te was forced to cancel a trip to Eswatini, Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa, after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar revoked permission for his plane to use their airspace.
- China praised the three African nations for upholding the 'one-China principle' and denied allegations from Taiwan that it had applied economic pressure to block the presidential flight.
- This marks the first time a Taiwanese leader has had to cancel an overseas trip due to such pressure, which Mr Lai condemned as 'suppressive' actions threatening global stability.
- Madagascar and Seychelles confirmed their decisions were based on their recognition of only one China, asserting their sovereignty over their airspace.
- The incident follows a trend of countries, including Nauru, Honduras, Nicaragua, Kiribati, and the Solomon Islands, cutting diplomatic ties with Taiwan to recognise China, often under alleged Chinese pressure.
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