Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) returned to Taiwan early today after a brief visit to Eswatini as special envoy for President William Lai (賴清德), following the last-minute cancelation of Lai's planned trip to the African ally to attend celebrations for its king, reportedly due to Chinese pressure.
"We managed to overcome difficulties and accomplished the mission entrusted by the president," Lin told reporters at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport at about 6am.
Photo: Chu Pei-hsiung, Taipei Times
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lin arrived in Eswatini — Taiwan's only diplomatic ally in Africa — on Saturday to attend events marking King Mswati III's 40th anniversary on the throne and his 58th birthday.
The ministry did not say how Lin reached Eswatini after Taiwan last week accused the Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar of denying overflight permits for Lai's aircraft.
A video released by the ministry showed Lin arriving aboard a Gulfstream G650ER private jet.
Taiwanese media, citing unnamed sources, reported that Lin first flew to a European country before chartering the jet for a nonstop flight to Eswatini, avoiding the three countries' airspace.
Asked for comment, ministry spokesperson Hsiao Kuang-wei (蕭光偉) declined to confirm Lin's itinerary, saying only that appropriate arrangements had been made.
Further details could not be disclosed due to security concerns, he added.
In a separate statement, the ministry said Lin also inspected several Taiwan-funded projects during the two-day visit, including the Aquaculture Research and Production Center, opened last year, and a smart outpatient clinic at Manzini Government Hospital built by Taiwan's medical mission.
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