President's State Visit to Eswatini Delayed by Flight Permit Revocation; US Senator Vows to Discuss with African Ambassadors

(CNA) - President Lai Ching-te's state visit to Eswatini in April was initially hindered when flight permits were suddenly revoked, though the visit was later rescheduled for May. During her visit to Taiwan, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth stated today that she will subsequently discuss with African ambassadors and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) why President Lai's state visit was abruptly denied flight permits.

Premier Cho Jung-tai, accompanied by Vice Premier Cheng Wen-tsan and others, met with Duckworth and her delegation today at the Executive Yuan. Raymond Greene, Director of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Taipei Office, was also present.

In her remarks, Duckworth noted that she was the first U.S. senator to visit Taiwan after the Trump-Xi summit, demonstrating bipartisan U.S. support for Taiwan and the long-standing, firm friendship between the two sides. She added that this trip provided insights into opportunities for enhancing mutual cooperation and addressing issues such as supply chain resilience.

She expressed strong admiration for Taiwan's efforts in developing its domestic drone production program, stating that the U.S. also requires drone parts and components, making this crucial for both Taiwan and the U.S. She believes the two sides will be excellent partners in terms of supply chains.

Regarding China's methods of harassment against Taiwan, Duckworth said that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) attempts to isolate Taiwan from the world through economic and gray-zone tactics. She emphasized that this issue is also important for the world, as if the CCP succeeds in pressuring Taiwan, they will replicate such actions elsewhere, normalizing behaviors that affect freedom of navigation or airspace.

Duckworth, who is the highest-ranking member of the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Aviation, Space, and Innovation, stated that she will subsequently discuss with African ambassadors and the ICAO why President Lai's state visit was suddenly denied flight permits.

She stressed that the U.S. cannot allow Taiwan to be blockaded in terms of navigation, airspace, or any other aspect, which is very important for both the U.S. and Taiwan. She also expressed hope for continued cooperation between the two sides in economic and other areas in the future.

President Lai Ching-te was originally scheduled to visit the African ally Eswatini from April 22 to 27. The day before departure, Presidential Office Secretary-General P.M. Pan announced at a press conference that flight permits for three countries along the President's flight path—Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar—were suddenly canceled. Considering the safety of the head of state and the delegation's flight safety, the trip was postponed. President Lai subsequently arrived in Eswatini on May 2 to begin his state visit. (Edited by Lin Hsing-meng) 1150708)