Pakistan, April 22 -- Taiwan President Lai Ching-te has cancelled a planned trip to Eswatini after African countries revoked flight permits. The decision follows allegations that China exerted pressure on several states to block the presidential aircraft. The development highlights rising diplomatic tensions between China and Taiwan.

Taiwanese officials said Seychelles, Mauritius, and Madagascar withdrew flight permissions after what they described as intense Chinese pressure. They claimed the revocations came unexpectedly and without prior notice. However, China denied coercion and praised the countries' decisions.

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According to Taiwan, the move marks the first known ...