TAOYUAN: President Lai Ching-te arrived home on Tuesday from Eswatini, declaring Taiwan would not give in to pressure after taking a circuitous route over the southern Indian Ocean to avoid airspace controlled by China's close allies.
China views Taiwan as part of its territory with no right to state-to-state ties, a position Taiwan's government strongly disputes. Beijing has demanded countries stop engagements with the island.
Lai's government said China forced three Indian Ocean states-the Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar-to deny overflight permission for his aircraft last month. The trip was originally planned for celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession.
Lai arrived in Eswatini on Saturday, one of just 12 countries with formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Neither government announced the trip in advance. Lai flew on the king's private A340, previously operated by Taiwan's China Airlines.
"The world belongs to everyone. Taiwan belongs to the world. Taiwanese people have the right to engage with the world. We will not retreat in the face of suppression," Lai said upon arrival at Taoyuan Airport.
There was no immediate response from China, which last week likened Lai to a "rat" for his "skulking" visit.
Lai's aircraft left Eswatini on Monday, flying a long route over the bottom of the Indian Ocean, avoiding Mauritius and Madagascar flight information regions. It passed over Australia's Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines before entering Taiwan airspace.
China has increased efforts to squeeze Taiwan's international space, calling Lai a "separatist." Lai rejects those claims, asserting Taiwan's right to global engagement.
The US State Department described Taiwan as a "trusted and capable" partner, saying Taipei's global relationships provide significant benefits.