Taiwan President Lai-Ching-te will travel to Eswatini via a non-stop flight route deliberately avoiding Middle East airspace amid ongoing regional conflict, according to Taiwan’s Foreign Ministry.
According to reports, the decision comes as security risks and airspace disruptions continue to affect major international aviation corridors linking Asia, Africa and Europe.
It has been reported that Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Francois Wu said at a briefing in Taipei that Lai and his delegation would avoid flying over the Middle East during their journey to Eswatini, where is Majesty King Mswati III will be hosting celebrations marking his 40th year on the throne and his 58th birthday.
The visit, confirmed by Taiwan’s Presidential Office, marks Lai’s second overseas trip since taking office in May 2024 and underscores continued diplomatic engagement between Taiwan and Eswatini, its sole remaining diplomatic ally in Africa.
Eswatini is among a small group of countries worldwide that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, ties that have endured for more than five decades despite increasing pressure from Beijing to isolate the island diplomatically.
The travel adjustment reflects broader aviation disruptions linked to instability in the Middle East, where ongoing conflicts and security tensions have led to periodic airspace closures and restrictions. These developments have forced airlines to frequently reassess long-haul routes connecting East Asia with Africa and Europe.
Under normal aviation planning, flights from East Asia to southern Africa may pass over South Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, or the Horn of Africa, depending on air traffic control clearance and airline routing strategies. However, in recent months, carriers have increasingly opted for longer alternative paths through Central Asia and over the Indian Ocean to avoid risk zones, resulting in extended flight times but improved safety margins.
According to reporting by the Taipei Times, Lai’s itinerary includes meetings with King Mswati III and the signing of a joint communiqué, alongside participation in the anniversary celebrations and a visit to a Taiwanese-supported industrial innovation park.
The visit is also framed within Taiwan’s broader diplomatic strategy of strengthening ties with its remaining allies in Africa and the Pacific, even as China expands its influence across the continent through infrastructure financing and multilateral initiatives such as the Belt and Road framework.
Taiwanese officials argue that their cooperation model focuses on sectors such as health, education, agriculture and capacity building, rather than politically conditional lending, positioning it as an alternative development partner for countries like Eswatini. The visit is expected to conclude later this month, with Lai returning to Taiwan after completing engagements in Eswatini
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