But Lai’s office announced late on Tuesday that the visit would be postponed after Seychelles, Mauritius and Madagascar cancelled previously approved overflight permissions without notice.
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Taipei accused Beijing of pressuring the three African nations to withdraw clearance for Lai’s aircraft. With re-routing proving complex, Lai’s office said safety concerns left no choice but to delay the trip and instead send a special envoy.
In Beijing, the State Council’s Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) thanked the three African countries for their decision “to adhere to the one-China principle”.
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However, TAO spokeswoman Zhang Han rejected suggestions that Beijing used economic coercion to derail the trip.