China Likens Taiwan's President to a 'Rat' After Surrounding Obstacles to Visit Eswatini

In a statement issued on Sunday, May 3, 2026, President Lai asserted that Taiwan has every right to maintain international relations and that no country can obstruct its global engagement. While Beijing claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, the government in Taipei maintains its status as a sovereign state.

Last month, Beijing pressured three nations in the Indian Ocean region to cancel overflight permissions for President Lai’s aircraft, aiming to prevent his participation in the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession to the throne. However, employing a diplomatic strategy of "arrive first, announce later," Lai reached Eswatini on Saturday via a special aircraft provided by the Eswatini government. Currently, Eswatini is one of only 12 nations worldwide that maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei.

China’s Taiwan Affairs Office condemned the visit as "loathsome," likening President Lai to a "rat scurrying across the street." Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council swiftly slammed Beijing’s remarks as "disgusting and low-level." In a sharp rebuttal, the Council compared Beijing’s officials to "quarrelsome fish-market vendors," stating that Taiwan does not require Beijing's permission to travel anywhere. Notably, the United States and several European nations have already criticized China for its attempts to block the flight path of the Taiwanese leader.