Taiwan's President, Lai Ching-te, is in Eswatini on an unannounced visit that Taipei says Beijing tried to stop. Upon arrival, Lai reportedly told King Mswati III that Taiwan has the right to engage with the international community and that no country can prevent it from doing so.

 The remarks come after China is said to have pressured three Indian Ocean nations to withdraw overflight permissions for Lai's aircraft en route to the kingdom, where he was due to attend celebrations marking the 40th anniversary of King Mswati III's accession. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and opposes any formal state-to-state relations between Taipei and other countries.

 Lulu Gaboo spoke to Dr Samir Bhattacharya, an Associate Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation, in New Delhi, India.