China refers to Taiwan’s president as a “rat” for his confrontational travel to Eswatini

TAIPEI: President Lai Ching-te informed the monarch of Eswatini that Taiwan has a right to interact with the world and that no nation can prevent it, as China denounced him as a “rat” and Beijing attempted to prevent it.
Taiwan’s administration vehemently contests China’s assertion that democratically ruled Taiwan is a part of its territory and has no right to state-to-state relations. Beijing has demanded that nations cease any contact with the island.

Taiwan said last month that China had compelled three nations in the Indian Ocean to revoke permission for Lai’s plane to fly across to Eswatini, a small kingdom in southern Africa, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III’s accession.

It is one of just twelve nations that have official relations with Taipei. In remarks released by the presidential office on Sunday, May 3, Lai informed the monarch, referring to Taiwan’s official name, “The Republic of China.” Taiwan is a sovereign nation, and Taiwan belongs to the world. Taiwan’s 23 million citizens have the right to interact with the outside world, and no nation has the authority or right to try to stop Taiwan from doing so.

Lai took an Eswatini government plane to the former Swaziland, which is home to over 1.3 million people, on Saturday. Neither administration had previously disclosed the trip.

Due to the delicate nature of the matter, a senior Taiwan security official stated that the “arrive then announce” technique is frequently employed in high-level international diplomacy, minimizing the “uncertain risks of potential interference from external forces.”

Lai “skulked” his way to Eswatini, according to China’s Taiwan Affairs Office late on Saturday. The international community will undoubtedly laugh at Lai Ching-te’s abhorrent behavior, which is like a rat scuttling across the street, a spokeswoman said in a statement.

Lai does not require Beijing’s approval to travel anywhere, according to Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, which sets China policy. It continued, “The fishwife’s gutter talk at the Taiwan Affairs Office is extremely dull.”

The US criticized China for canceling Lai’s plans last month because of the overflight issue, while the European Union, Britain, France, and Germany expressed alarm.