Washington doesn’t formally recognise Taiwan, however is the island territory’s predominant safety backer – although the tone of that assist has softened slightly below US President Donald Trump.
The US chief is due to meet China’s President Xi Jinping subsequent month.
Beijing stated on Wednesday it had “excessive appreciation” for the African international locations that blocked the permits for Lai’s journey deliberate for this week.
“Related international locations maintained assist for the one-China precept, utterly consistent with … the essential norms of worldwide relations, China expresses excessive appreciation,” a Chinese language overseas ministry spokesperson stated in an announcement.
Lai’s final official abroad journey was in November 2024, when he visited Taiwan’s Pacific allies and transited by means of the US territory of Guam.
Trump’s administration reportedly denied Lai permission to transit in New York final yr as a part of an official journey to Latin America. Taiwan’s overseas ministry denies that he was blocked.
