Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini on May 3, marking a significant visit to the only African nation that recognizes Taiwan diplomatically. This trip follows a previously planned visit that was canceled due to several African countries retracting overflight clearances under pressure from Beijing. President Lai addressed the logistical challenges, stating that his arrival was achieved after extensive secret arrangements by diplomatic teams. He expressed hopes for strengthening ties between Taiwan and Eswatini through enhanced cooperation in economic, agricultural, cultural, and educational sectors. In his speech, Lai asserted that the 23 million Taiwanese people deserve to engage with the world, countering China's claims that Taiwan is part of its territory. The visit elicited strong reactions from Chinese officials, who criticized Lai's trip as a 'stowaway-style escape' and warned Eswatini against supporting Taiwan independence. Eswatini, formerly known as Swaziland, is one of only 12 countries maintaining formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.