The US Department of State yesterday criticized the three African countries that revoked overflight clearances for President William Lai's (賴清德) planned trip to Eswatini this week, saying they had yielded to China's political demands.
Lai was scheduled to fly directly to Taiwan’s only African ally from yesterday to Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession and his 58th birthday, but the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar suddenly revoked the charter’s overflight rights, the Presidential Office said on Tuesday evening.
It is the first time a Taiwanese president has had to cancel an entire foreign trip due to denial of airspace access, as China steps up efforts to stifle the nation's attempts to engage internationally.
Photo: Bloomberg
The US is concerned that several African countries revoked overflight clearances for Taiwan's president at China's behest, the US Department of State said yesterday, calling the incident an abuse of the international civil aviation system.
"These countries are acting at the behest of China by interfering in the safety and dignity of routine travel by Taiwan officials," an unnamed department spokesperson said in an e-mail, without naming the countries.
"These countries manage international airspace within their delegated Flight Information Regions, which extend well beyond the sovereign airspace above their territories," the spokesperson said. "This management responsibility exists solely to ensure aviation safety, not to serve as a political tool for Beijing."
The blockage was another example of China "waging its intimidation campaign against Taiwan and Taiwan's supporters around the world, abusing the international civil aviation system, and threatening international peace and prosperity," the spokesperson said.
"We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic, and economic pressure against Taiwan and instead engage in meaningful dialogue," the spokesperson said, when asked about Washington's view of the factors that caused the suspension of Lai's trip to Eswatini.
The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) today also expressed concern over the incident.
Certain countries interfere with the safety and dignity of Taiwanese officials at the behest of China, the AIT said, without naming them.
The revocation of the overflight clearances was announced on Tuesday, less than 24 hours before Lai was scheduled to depart on the five-day visit to Taiwan's sole diplomatic ally in Africa.
The decision to rescind overflight permission was the result of "economic coercion" by China against the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar, the Presidential Office has said.
The Seychelles and Madagascar told the media they had made the decision independently, but also said that they do not recognize Taiwan as a sovereign state.
A senior Taiwan security official said that China applied pressure on the Seychelles, Madagascar and Mauritius, threatening economic sanctions, including the revocation of debt relief.
China's Taiwan Affairs Office denied the claim, but expressed appreciation for the position and "practice" of the three countries in adhering to the “one China” principle.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday lauded the decisions made by the three countries, saying that 53 countries in Africa, with the sole exception of Eswatini, recognize the People's Republic of China and uphold the “one China” principle, which holds that Taiwan is "an inalienable part of China's territory."
"China highly commends relevant countries' commitment to the one China principle, which is fully consistent with international law and basic norms governing international relations," it said in a statement.
British Representative to Taiwan Ruth Bradley-Jones, yesterday said that decisions about airspace control should not be political.
"Neutral and predictable airspace management is essential to flight safety, and to the everyday exchanges that keep the global economy moving," Bradley-Jones wrote on Facebook.
"Decisions about airspace management should put safety and stability first, and should not be made for political ends," she said.
The foreign ministries of two of Taiwan's diplomatic allies, Belize and Paraguay, also expressed concern over the decision.
Additional reporting by Fion Khan
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