The United States on Wednesday denounced China's "intimidation campaign" after several African countries were reportedly pressured by Beijing to thwart Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te's official trip by revoking overflight permissions.
Taiwan announced Tuesday that Mr. Lai was postponing his trip to Eswatini — the island's only diplomatic ally in Africa — after "the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar unexpectedly and without prior notice revoked the charter plane's overflight permissions."
China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes the autonomous island's participation in international organizations and exchanges with other countries.
"We are concerned by reports that several countries have revoked overflight permissions in order to prevent the Taiwanese president from visiting Eswatini," a spokesman for the US State Department told AFP.
"These countries are acting at China's behest by interfering with the safety and dignity of the routine travel of Taiwanese officials," the spokesman added, without naming the countries involved.
"This is yet another instance of Beijing conducting its campaign of intimidation against Taiwan and its supporters around the world."
Ms. Lai's chief of staff, Pan Men-an, had stated earlier that "the real reason is that the Chinese authorities have exerted intense pressure, including economic coercion."
The Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Washington's remarks were "baseless accusations".
"The United States has irresponsibly criticized China's legitimate actions to preserve its national sovereignty and territorial integrity," spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press briefing.
"Such behavior constitutes a total distortion of the facts and a confusion between good and evil," he added.
Washington does not officially recognize Taiwan, but is the main security supporter of this island territory — although the tone of this support has softened slightly under the presidency of Donald Trump.
The American leader is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping next month.
Beijing said on Wednesday that it had "high regard" for the African countries that blocked Mr. Lai's planned travel permits for this week.
"The countries concerned have maintained their support for the one-China principle, in full compliance with... the basic norms of international relations, and China expresses its high appreciation," a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
Lai's last official trip abroad was in November 2024, when he visited Taiwan's allies in the Pacific and transited through the US territory of Guam.
The Trump administration reportedly denied Lai permission to transit through New York last year during an official trip to Latin America. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry denied that he was blocked.
