Beijing, May 19:
China on Monday praised the government of Seychelles for revoking outbound flight permits for Lai Ching-te, describing the move as a clear endorsement of Beijing’s “One China” policy and a setback for what it calls “Taiwan independence separatist forces.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks during talks in Beijing with Barry Faure. Wang said China “highly appreciates” Seychelles for handling the matter “lawfully and openly” and for refusing to facilitate travel by Lai, whom Beijing considers a leading pro-independence figure.
Wang asserted that more countries are likely to follow Seychelles’ example and “stand on the right side of international justice and history.” His comments come amid heightened tensions between China and Taiwan, with Beijing intensifying diplomatic pressure to isolate Taipei on the global stage.
China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province and strongly opposes any international engagement that could be interpreted as recognizing Taiwan’s sovereignty. Lai Ching-te, who took office as Taiwan’s president in 2024, has repeatedly drawn Beijing’s ire for his stance on Taiwan’s self-governance and democratic identity.
The latest development underscores China’s continued success in persuading nations to limit official contact with Taiwan. While Taiwan maintains informal ties with many countries, Beijing has steadily worked to shrink Taipei’s international space by leveraging its economic and diplomatic influence.
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