Lai Ching-te's travel to Eswatini, like a stowaway, is a perfect proof that Taiwan secessionism acts are too shameful to be made public, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said at a press conference in Beijing on Wednesday.
Lin made the remarks when asked to comment on the travel to Eswatini by Lai, leader of China's Taiwan region, on Saturday on the private jet of the King of Eswatini.
Disregarding the widespread opposition from all parties, Lai sneaked into a foreign aircraft on the trip to Eswatini, colluding with Eswatini to conceal information about the people onboard. On the return trip, relevant countries refused to allow Lai's flight to overfly their territories. But Lai, again secretly, flew in and forced his way through -- an act that was truly contemptible, said Lin.
"In defiance of the sovereignty and airspace of the countries concerned, and against the will of the international community, Lai Ching-te has committed an act that defies universal condemnation, an act that is highly dangerous and insane. Lai's stowaway-like trip to Eswatini proved that Taiwan secessionism acts are too shameful to be made public and not allowed by the international community. They are nothing more than a scandal and a farce," said Lin.
"Some politicians in Eswatini, who are supported by Taiwan, provide space for Taiwan secessionism, going against the trend of history, and China strongly condemns it. Over the recent years, we have repeatedly heard people in Taiwan's so-called 'diplomatic allies' call strongly for developing relations with China. Those countries should think clearly and make a clear choice whether they should see the ultimate trend and meet their peoples' aspirations, or continue to be wantonly used by the likes of Lai," said Lin.
The spokesman reiterated that there is but one China in the world, and that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory.
He said that facts have repeatedly proven that the consensus on the one-China principle is deeply rooted in the international community and is unshakable.
The Taiwan secessionism is heading toward failure, Lin said, urging separatist forces to correct course as early as possible and return to the right track.
In response to another media query about some countries' rejection to Lai's flyover, Lin said that "it is a matter of a country's sovereignty to choose whether open its airspace or not. The countries concerned adhered to the one-China principle and refused to issue flight permission to Lai. This just action fully complies with international law and the basic norm governing international relations, further proving that the one-China principle is where the arc of history bends. The Taiwan secessionism acts will find no support," said Lin.
Lai Ching-te's travel to Eswatini is like a stowaway: spokesperson
