President Lai Ching-te’s (賴清德) visit to African ally Eswatini was postponed after Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar abruptly revoked overflight permissions for his plane, prompting U.S. lawmakers to condemn China on Tuesday. 

Lai had been scheduled to fly directly to Eswatini on Wednesday. The Republican caucus of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs posted on X: “Yet again, the Chinese Communist Party is trying to bully Taiwan, a close partner of the United States. We stand with Taiwan against this blatant coercion.”

The U.S. House Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party wrote: “We condemn China’s efforts to block travel by Taiwan President Lai Ching-te by pressuring other nations to deny overflight clearance. This is not diplomacy; it is economic pressure aimed at isolating a democratic partner.” 

Republican Senator John Curtis posted on X that China's pressure on these nations to isolate Taiwan serves as a clear reminder that totalitarian governments not only restrict internal freedoms but also interfere in foreign affairs. Under a Chinese-controlled international order, the actions, speech, and fundamental freedoms of those who oppose it will be restricted.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz noted on X that Mauritius, which earlier sought to oust Britain from the Chagos Islands over Chinese interests, is now interfering with Taiwan's flight to Africa. “Mauritius seems determined to ally with the Chinese Communist Party at the expense of U.S. interests. They say that’s their sovereign decision. The sovereign decision for the U.S. should be to counter their campaigns and hold their officials accountable.”

Congressional Taiwan Caucus Representative Mario Díaz-Balart said that pressuring countries to block overflight access is yet another example of Beijing’s intimidation against Taiwan. He emphasized, “Not only is it shameful that Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar caved to CCP pressure, but this weaponization of aviation safety is reckless and dangerous.”

Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X, condemning China for using pressure and economic coercion to cancel the flight permissions, reaffirming support for Taiwan and nations’ right to freely develop relations without undue interference.

Hon. Mark Brantley, former St. Kitts and Nevis Foreign Minister and current Premier of Nevis, responded to Lai’s post on X: “Coercive conduct by some countries continues to threaten global security. People across the world just wish to live in peace. Let peace prevail and let all people of goodwill condemn any and all coercive actions from whatever source.”