Lai Ching-te said Taiwan has the right to engage internationally and cannot be isolated, as he arrived in Eswatini for an unannounced visit that Taipei says Beijing attempted to obstruct.

Speaking alongside King Mswati III, Lai emphasized that Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is a sovereign nation whose people deserve a role on the global stage.

“The 23 million people of Taiwan have the right to engage with the world,” Lai said, adding that no country should attempt to block the island’s participation in international affairs.

China, which considers Taiwan part of its territory, condemned the visit and has long opposed Taipei’s diplomatic outreach. Beijing has pressured other nations to cut formal and informal ties with the island.

Taiwanese officials said China had recently influenced several countries to deny overflight access to Lai’s aircraft en route to Eswatini, one of only a small number of nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.

The visit, marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati’s rule, was not publicly announced in advance—a tactic often used in sensitive diplomatic travel to reduce the risk of interference.

Lai arrived Saturday aboard an aircraft provided by the Eswatini government, underscoring the close relationship between the two sides despite mounting pressure from Beijing.