What’s Behind China’s Fury Over Taiwan Leader’s ‘Arrive Then Announce’ Diplomatic Visits

(SeaPRwire) –   Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te arrived in Eswatini on Saturday for an unannounced diplomatic visit, following a previous attempt that was blocked last month, an action that has drawn sharp criticism from Beijing.

In a statement, China’s foreign ministry denounced Lai’s actions as “despicable,” comparing the Taiwanese leader to a “rat scurrying across the street.” Beijing further urged Eswatini and other nations to recognize the “general trend of history” and refrain from supporting “Taiwan independence” separatists.

Lai’s trip to Eswatini utilizes a “stealth” diplomatic strategy—arriving before announcing the visit—to bypass potential interference from Beijing, which claims Taiwan as its own territory and actively works to prevent other nations from maintaining formal diplomatic ties with the island.

Last month, Lai’s planned visit to Eswatini—one of only 12 countries with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan—to mark the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession was aborted after three African nations friendly to China closed their airspace to his aircraft. According to Bloomberg, Germany and the Czech Republic also declined requests for the Taiwanese President to transit through their territory.

Taiwan attributed the cancellation to Chinese pressure on the African nations to deny flight clearance. While China denied exerting such influence, it publicly commended the countries for their decision.

“Taiwan will not be intimidated by external pressure,” Lai stated in a social media post confirming his arrival in Eswatini. “Our resolve and commitment are rooted in the understanding that Taiwan will continue to engage with the world, regardless of the obstacles we face.”

Lai’s departure from Eswatini on Monday was also kept quiet, mirroring his arrival; his office had previously suggested he would remain in the country for an additional night, reflecting concerns over potential Chinese efforts to disrupt his travel itinerary.

Tensions between the U.S. and China

The visit has underscored the ongoing friction between the United States and China regarding Taiwan.

A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department described the President’s trip as “routine” and stated it “should not be politicized.”

“Taiwan is a capable and trusted partner of the United States and many others, and its global relationships provide significant benefits to the citizens of those countries, including Eswatini,” the spokesperson noted, adding that Lai’s predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, had visited Eswatini in 2018 and 2023.

Although the U.S. lacks formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it remains the island’s primary international ally and arms supplier. In December, amid rising military and diplomatic pressure from Beijing, Washington unveiled an $11 billion arms package—the largest in history for Taiwan—widely viewed as a move to deter any potential Chinese attempt to seize the island by force.

However, the following month, Trump remarked that any action taken by Chinese President Xi Jinping toward Taiwan is “up to him.” Additionally, the Pentagon has redirected aircraft carriers and missile defense systems from the Pacific to support Trump’s and Israel’s conflict in Iran, which began in February.

With a rescheduled summit between Trump and Xi set for May 14–15 in Beijing, Taiwanese officials have voiced concerns that the U.S. President might offer concessions to maintain relations with China.

“Our greatest fear is that Taiwan will be placed on the menu during talks between Xi Jinping and President Trump,” Deputy Foreign Minister Francois Wu told Bloomberg last month. “We are worried, and we must prevent that from happening.”

During a conversation last week with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized that “the Taiwan question bears on China’s core interests and is the biggest risk in China-U.S. relations,” and urged Washington to “make the right choice,” according to the Chinese foreign ministry.