China lauds nations that denied overflight rights for Taiwan president

Beijing: China heaped praise on Wednesday on three countries that denied overflight permission for the aircraft of Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, saying its one-China principle was a norm ‌of international ⁠relations.

At ⁠a regular news conference in Beijing, a ​spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office denied that China ​had used economic coercion to ensure the flight was blocked, while expressing appreciation for the ​position and "practice" of those countries ⁠in adhering ‌to the one-China principle.

Taiwan had accused China of pressing the Seychelles, Mauritius, ⁠and Madagascar to revoke permission for Lai's aircraft to fly over their territories. He had been due to visit Eswatini this week.


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The small southern African nation is one of just a dozen countries to retain formal ties with ‌Chinese-claimed Taiwan. Lai originally planned to leave Taiwan on Wednesday to attend ​the 40th anniversary ​celebrations ⁠of King Mswati III's accession.

The move comes a little more than a week after China rolled out new incentives for Taiwan, including the easing of food imports, after opposition leader Cheng Li-wun met President Xi Jinping in Beijing.